Various substituted derivatives of benzyl cyanide such as 2, 4-dichlorobenzyl cyanide 2 are important intermediates in the pharmaceutical industry (penicillin derivatives) 1 and for the generation of a number of substances such as herbicides and pesticides. 2–4 Several patents describe methods for the preparation of benzyl cyanides5 and the most frequently used procedure for the preparation of 2, 4-dichlorobenzyl cyanide (2), involving the ...