| abstract |
A heteroaromatic nitrile is prepared in a high selectivity and yield by catalytically reacting an alkyl-substituted heteroaromatic compound with molecular oxygen and ammonia in a molar ratio of oxygen to ammonia of not larger than 1.6:1 in a gaseous phase in the presence of a catalyst comprising a vanadium-phosphorus oxide of the formula: VPxSbyOz (I) wherein x, y and z represent atomic ratios of phosphorus, antimony and oxygen to vanadium, respectively, and x is from 0.1 to 5, y is 0 to 8 and z is defined from the valencies of other elements. |