Patent ID: 6875882

Claim:
A method of preparing a substituted benzonitrile represented by Structural Formula (I): wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently —H, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; comprising the steps of: a.) amidating a substituted benzoic acid represented by Structural Formula (II): wherein R 1 and R 2 are as defined above; by reacting said substituted benzoic acid with an activating agent and an α,β-aminoalcohol represented by Structural Formula (III): wherein R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 are each —H or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups, thereby forming a substituted 2-phenyloxazoline represented by Structural Formula (IV): b.) reacting the substituted 2-phenyloxazoline with phosphorus oxychloride, thereby forming the substituted benzonitrile represented by Structural Formula (I).