Abstract
Ethylbenzonitriles were synthesized by selective gas-phase ammoxidation of ethylbenzyl chlorides prepared by chloromethylation of ethylbenzene in good yields and almost 100% selectivity at ca. 200 °C for the first time.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are grateful for the financial support from the Natural Sciences Foundation of China (40830852, 21172269) and the Natural Sciences Foundation of Hubei Province (2008CDZ038).