Substituted syn-benzaldoxime esters are transformed, in an alcoholic solution, to the corresponding nitriles according to first-order kinetics. All ortho substituents were observed to accelerate the rate of nitrile formation relative to the corresponding para derivative. While the ko/kp ratios for the bromo, chloro, fluoro, methoxy, and methyl substituents fall within the range of 2 to 9, the iodo and methylthio substituents are 119 and 11 000 respectively. ...
