| abstract |
AN AMIDE IS PREPARED BY THE TRANSITION METAL-CATALYZED SELECTIVE HYDROLYSIS OF THE CORRESPONDING NITRILE IN A CARBOXYLIC ACID SOLVENT. THE CATALYST IS A CUPRIC, NICKELOUS, OR MERCURIC SALT, PREFERABLY A SALT IN WHICH THE ANION IS THE CONJUGATE BASE OF THE CARBOXYLIC ACID. ACCORDING TO A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION, THE NITRILE IS AN AROMATIC NITRILE, E.G., TEREPHTHALONITRILE. |