DRY HYDROLYSIS OF NITRITES EFFECTED BY MICROWAVE-HEATING

The preparation of carboxylic acids from their corresponding nitriles by a ''dry hydrolysis'' with dicarboxylic acids, in the absence of sol vent, has been investigated. The reaction proceeds very slowly at atmo spheric pressure, but high yields can be obtained in much shorter reac tion times under pressure. The mechanism of the reaction has been stud ied and its rate constant and activation energy determined in the case of a model reaction (preparation of phenylacetic acid from benzyl cya nide with phthalic acid) under both microwave and conventional heating . No ''microwave kinetic effect'' has been detected, but at high tempe ratures microwave heating gives better yields and selectivities.