Abstract
The vicinal dicyano compounds are good starting materials for the synthesis of macromolecules such as phthalocyanines and tetrazaporphins. The synthesis of cyano compounds and vicinal dicyano compounds, particularly the cyano derivatives of butadiene sulphones have been studied in this work. This thesis is divided into five chapters as follows: The first chapter contains a general introduction about organic cyanides; their preparations, reactions and applications. In the second chapter, the synthesis of butadiene sulphone derivatives leading to mono and dicyano substituents is dealt with. It includes some mechanistic studies as well as spectroscopic studies by means of ir, [1]H nmr and mass spectrometry. Chapter three discusses the synthesis of 3-cyano-and 3,4-dicyanodihydrothiophene. Oxidation of dihydrothiophenes into butadiene sulphones is also discussed in this chapter. The synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles from ketones and aldehydes, and in particular, the synthesis of 2,3-dicyano-1,3-butadiene is discussed in chapter four. The addition of hydrogen cyanide to alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles is also discussed. Chapter five deals with the multistep synthesis of 2,3-dicyano-1,3-butadiene from phthalic anhydride. It also contains some mechanistic studies.