| abstract |
A process for producing a cyanobenzoic acid compound, a cyanobenzamide compound, an alkyl cyanobenzoate compound, and a cyanobenzoyl chloride compound, which are useful intermediates for a variety of chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, liquid crystals, and monomers for functional polymers. One nitrile group of an easily available phthalonitrile compound is selectively hydrolyzed to thereby produce a cyanobenzamide compound with high selectivity and yield. The cyanobenzamide compound thus-produced is transformed under acidic conditions into a cyanobenzoic acid compound and a cyanobenzoate ester compound without the cyano group of the benzene ring being damaged. |