Abstract
Reaction of nitriles of acetonitrile and benzonitrile series with alkali hydroxides was carried out in liquid ammonia. It was thereby found that the reaction occured either with the active hydrogen or with the nitrite in accordance with the strength of the reactivity or the presence or absence of the hydrogen attached to the α-carbon of the nitrile. The alkali hydroxide had been considered to be present as a salt but it is assumed that the reaction took place because the alkali hydroxides in liquid ammonia underwent dissociation at higher temperatures.
