Oxidative ammonolysis of 3-picoline on mixed oxide catalysts

The oxidative ammonolysis of 3-picoline has been studied on the following catalysts: V₂O₅ on corundum, V₂O₅ with the addition of 1% of H₂WO₄ on corundum, V₂O₅ + MoO₃ + P₂O₅ (10.350.35) on silica gel, V₂O₅ + Al₂O₃, and a melt of V₂O₅ + TiO₂ (10.22). Mixed catalysts of vanadium and titanium oxides exhibited the highest activity and selectivity. With the passage of 25–45 moles of oxygen (in the form of air), 5–10 moles of ammonia, and 50–70 moles of water per mole of 3-picoline at a temperature of 390–410° C, the amount of nicotinonitrile formed on these catalysts amounted to 85–90% of the theoretically possible amount.Part LXIII of the series Oxidation of organic compounds; for part LXII, see 1].