Catalytic synthesis of propionitrile from methanol and acetonitrile over activated carbon-supported sodium catalysts

Catalytic synthesis of propionitrile from methanol and acetonitrile was ach ieved by using activated-carbon-supported sodium catalysts. The activity of catalysts is determined by the precursor of the sodium: the catalysts prep ared from sodium hydrogen carbonate show the highest activity. At high conv ersion of acetonitrile (70%), a propionitrile yield selectively exceeding 8 0% is achieved with a minor amount of methacrylonitrile as a secondary prod uct. The order of catalytic activity of catalysts correlates well with the adsorption capacities for methanol and acetonitrile measured by the TPD met hod.