Efficient Hydrolysis of Nitriles to Amides with Hydroperoxide Anion in Aqueous Surfactant Solutions as Reaction Medium

Aliphatic and aromatic nitriles are converted to corresponding amides in a single step via hydrolysis with basic H2O2 in aqueous solution of the surfactant Cetyltrimethylammonium methanesulfonate (CTAOMs). The method has several advantages: use and recycle of water as reaction medium, use of environmentally benign oxidant H2O2, easy product isolation, short reaction time, high yields and selectivity, mild conditions.