Ferric chloride-catalysed conversion of α-t-butoxy- or α-acetoxy-acrylonitriles into imides
Abstract
Ferric chloride in acetic anhydride promotes the conversion of α-t-butoxy- or α-acetoxy-acrylonitriles into α-acetoxy-αβ-unsaturated imides by the formal addition of acetic acid across the CN bond; the structure of one of the products has been determined by X-ray crystallography.