Question

What happens when benzamide is treated with ${\mathrm{POCl}}_3$?

Answer 1

Reaction of Benzamide with phosphorus oxychloride:

• When benzamide is treated with phosphorus oxychloride $\left({\mathrm{POCl}}_3\right)$, this results in the formation of benzonitrile.
• In this reaction, phosphorus oxychloride works as a dehydrating agent. Thus, this reaction is also known as dehydration of benzamide.
• The chemical reaction can be depicted as: