Reactivity of isomeric picolines in oxidative ammonolysis on a vanadium oxide catalyst

The reactivity of isomeric picolines in their oxidative ammonolysis on a vanadium oxide catalyst, as measured by the rate constants of cyanopyridine formation, increases in the order 3-picoline < 2-picoline < 4-picoline. Correlations were found between the mentioned rate constants and the gas-phase basicities of the starting compounds, with sigma constants characterizing electron-acceptor properties of the nitrogen atoms, as well as the deprotonation constants of the methyl groups of picolines in the gas phase or bound via the nitrogen atoms with clasters; modeling Bronsted acid centers of the vanadium oxide surface.