Efficient one step transformation of carboxylic acids to nitriles with thecarbon chain shortened by one carbon atom

Nitrozation of omega-substituted alkanoic acids of the general formula X(CH 2)(n)CO2H (X = Cl, CO2H, CO2Me, PhthN), bulky substituted alkanoic acids, a rylacetic acids containing electron withdrawing substituents in the aromati c ring, o-tosylhydroxyphenylacetic acids and N-phtaloilaminophenylacetic ac ids yield nitriles with the carbon chain shortened by one (or two for dicar boxylic acids) carbon atom.