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The hydrolysis of benzonitrile has been carried out in sulphuric, perchloric, and hydrochloric acids over a wide range of acidities and temperatures. Analysis of these data by Zucker–Hammett, Bunnett, and Bunnett–Olsen criteria, and inverse solvent deuterium isotope effects are consistent with a mechanism involving equilibrium N-protonation, followed by rate-limiting attack of water on carbon.
Hyland et al. (Mon,) studied this question.