Yi. Smushkevich et al., Efficient one step transformation of carboxylic acids to nitriles with thecarbon chain shortened by one carbon atom, J CHEM R-S, (7), 1999, pp. 407-407A
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.