Anhydrous Hydration of Nitriles to Amides using Aldoximes as the Water Source

Abstract

Anhydrous hydrolysis of nitriles to amides was developed using acetaldoxime as the water source in the presence of Rh catalyst. Conversion of various nitriles to amides was performed under neutral and anhydrous conditions, and the reaction displays excellent compatibility with acid or base labile and hydrolytically labile functional groups.