Patent ID: 6965046

Claim:
A process for the conversion of an olefin selected from the group consisting of propylene, isobutylene or mixtures thereof, to acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile and mixtures thereof, respectively, by reacting in the vapor phase at an elevated temperature and pressure said olefin with a molecular oxygen containing gas and ammonia in the presence of an oxide catalyst, wherein the catalyst has the following empirical formula: A a B b C c Fe d Bi e Co f Ce g Sb h Mo m O x wherein A is at least one of Cr, P, Sn, Te, B, Ge, Zn, In, Mn, Ca, W, or mixtures thereof B is at least one of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Tl, or mixtures thereof C is a mixture of Ni and Mg, a is 0 to 4.0, b is 0.01 to 1.5, c is 1.0 to 10.0, d is 0.1 to 5.0, e is 0.1 to 2.0, f is 0.1 to 10.0, g is 0.1 to 2.0, h is 0.1 to 2.0, m is 12.0 to 18.0 and x is a number determined by the valence requirements of the other elements present.