Highly efficient Beckmann rearrangement and dehydration of oximes

Under mild conditions, Beckmann rearrangement of a variety of ketoximes could proceed in the presence of chlorosulfonic acid using toluene as a solvent with excellent conversion and selectivity. This procedure could also be applied in the dehydration of aldoximes for obtaining the corresponding nitriles. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.