PRODUCTION OF 2,3-DICHLOROPROPIONITRILE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably carry out a reaction without causing the intermittent and abrupt generation of heat and to obtain the subject compound in high yield, by chlorinating acrylonitrile in the presence of an amine hydrochloride as a catalyst. SOLUTION: Acrylonitrile is chlorinated in the presence of an amine hydrochloride (preferably β-picoline hydrochloride or pyridine hydrochloride) as a catalyst. The reaction is carried out by using 0.1-0.5mol of the catalyst based on 1mol of acrylonitrile in an oxygen-free atmosphere such as an inert gas atmosphere at 0-40 deg.C for 5-10 hours. The reaction is usually carried out under normal pressure. To complete the chlorination, usually 0.9-1.2mol of chlorine is used based on acrylonitrile. The amine hydrochloride may be prepared by previously adding an amine to the chlorination reaction system and introducing a chlorine gas into the reaction system. In this case, the amount of the chlorine gas is usually 0.8-1.2mol based on the amine.