Abstract: Passage of unsaturated organic molecules through a 13.56-MHz radio-frequency discharge, in the presence of cyanogen, results in the formation of unsaturated nitriles. Acrylonitrile was the major product from ethylene, propylene, acrolein, methyl vinyl ketone, or l, l, l-trifluoropropylene. 1-Butene, 2-butene, and isobutylene gave mixtures of nitrile products with the CN situated at vinylic or allylic positions. 2-Butyne gave 1-cyanopropyne ...
