US Patent 7102025 Method for producing alkyl and/or cycloalkyl-substituted cyclic nitrile

In the production method of the invention, a cyclic aldehyde having an alkyl group and/or a cycloalkyl group directly bonded to a skeletal ring and a formyl group directly bonded to the skeletal ring is brought into contact with ammonia and oxygen in vapor phase in the presence of a catalyst. As a result thereof, the formyl group is selectively ammoxidized into a cyano group to convert the cyclic aldehyde into a corresponding cyclic nitrile. The method enables a long-term, high-yield production of the cyclic nitrile using a reduced amount of ammonia.