PRODUCTION OF 6-BROMONICOTINIC ACID

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To produce 6-bromonicotinic acid useful as a synthetic raw material for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, etc., by hydrolyzing 3-cyano-6-bromopyridine under specific condition. SOLUTION: The objective 6-bromonicotinic acid of the formula I can be produced by hydrolyzing 3-cyano-6-bromopyridine of the formula II in a binary phase mixture of an aqueous solution of an acid (e.g. hydrobromic acid) and a water-insoluble organic solvent (e.g. toluene) at 30-180 deg.C for 0.5-20hr, preferably at 50-150 deg.C for 1-10hr. The amounts of the acid and the water-insoluble organic solvent are 0.1-10 times mol and 1-20 times amount based on the compound of the formula II, respectively. The weight ratio of the acid solution to the water-insoluble organic solvent is 0.1-5.