DEHYDRATION OF AROMATIC HETEROCYCLIC CARBOXAMIDES TO AROMATIC HETEROCYCLIC CARBONITRILES

Phosphorus pentoxide is commonly used for the dehydration of heterocyc lic carboxamides to the corresponding nitriles. In this report, the us e of cyanuric chloride/N,N-disubstituted formamide for this reaction i s described, The advantages of this procedure are mild reaction condit ions and good yields. Depending on the reaction conditions and the str uctures of the amides, the nitriles are obtained in yields from 51% to 99%. Several of the oxazole carbonitriles synthesized by this procedu re have not yet been described.