Efficient Mo(VI)-Catalyzed Hydration of Nitrile with Acetaldoxime

Abstract

A method for the selective hydration of nitrile to amide by employing commercially available acetaldoxime and inexpensive oxometallate such as molybdate, vanadate, and tungstate in environmentally friendly water is described. Under this protocol, nitriles including aromatic nitriles, heterocyclic nitriles, and aliphatic nitriles were converted into the corresponding amides in good to excellent yields.

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GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Acetaldoxime
• amide
• hydration
• nitrile
• sodium molybdate(VI) dihydrate

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China-NSAF (Grant No. 11076017) is gratefully acknowledged.

Notes

^a Reaction conditions: benzonitrile (2 mmol), H₂O (10 mL).

^b Isolated yield.

^a Reaction conditions: nitrile (2 mmol), acetaldoxime (6 mmol), Na₂MoO₄ · 2H₂O (0.2 mmol), H₂O (10 mL), reflux.

^b Isolated yield.

^c 8 mmol acetaldoxime was used.

^d 4 mmol acetaldoxime was used.