Phenylacetonitriles from toluenes

[Rhodium]

In US Pat 3,002,836 they react o-nitrotoluene with diethyl oxalate to form ethyl-o-nitrophenylpyruvate, which is reacted with hydroxylamine followed by H2SO4 to form o-nitrophenylacetonitrile.

This sounds like a great way to phenylacetonitriles, but they do not give any details on how to do it, and I do not know if the nitro group has anything to do with the reaction. Is there anyone who knows more about this reaction, and possibly have any useful references?

[Greensnake]

Nitro group (or another strong electron withdrawing group) is required, it makes Me protons acidic enough to allow condensation proceed. Approximate procedure for this condensation

http://orgsyn.org/orgsyn/prep.asp?prep=cv5p0567

of course there is nothing about further reaction with hydroxylamine and dehydration to nitrile. Anyway this will not work, if there will not be electon withdrawing group on benzene ring.

[Aurelius]

would multiple methoxy's work?

[Rhodium]

They are electron donating, so I guess that would make the reaction even more unlikely than without the nitro.

[Aurelius]

oops, got electron affinity mixed up in that question