
%0 Journal Article
%A Bagnell, L 
%A Jeffery, EA 
%A Meisters, A 
%A Mole, T 
%T A new conversion of nitriles into acetyl compounds: Nickel-catalysed methylation by trimethylaluminium
%J Australian Journal of Chemistry
%D 1974/12/01
%V 27
%N 12
%P 2577-2582
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9742577
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/CH9742577 
%X Nickel acetylacetonate catalyses the methylation of nitriles by trimethylaluminium. Methylation occurs in hydrocarbon solvent at near ambient temperature to give, upon hydrolysis, acetyl compounds (RCN &#8594; RCOMe). The following nitriles have been converted into acetyl compounds in moderate to good yields: benzonitrile, dodecyl cyanide, benzyl cyanide, diphenylacetonitrile, p-chlorobenzo-nitrile and glutaronitrile. Side reactions of the ketenimide formation-and- condensation type appear to occur less than with methyllithium and methyl Grignard reagents. 
