Transition metal-free hydration of nitriles to amides mediated by NaOH

Abstract

A transition metal-free NaOH mediated hydration of organo nitriles to amides under mild reaction conditions has been described. Both aliphatic and aromatic/hetero nitriles were smoothly converted into corresponding amides in moderate to good yields. *Correspondence to: Subbarayappa Adimurthy, Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, G.B. Marg, Bhavnagar-364 002, Gujarat, India, Fax: +91-278-2567562; E-mail: adimurthy@csmcri.res.in