In 1857 Hugo Schiff observed that the reaction between benzoyl chloride with potassium cyanide produced the desired benzonitrile. Work done later by British chemist Edmund A. Letts delved much deeper into the synthesis of nitriles.
In 1857, Hugo Schiff's observation about the reaction between benzoyl chloride and potassium cyanide producing benzonitrile marked a significant step in the synthesis of nitriles.  Edmund A. Letts later made further contributions to this field.