PMA/SiO2 catalyzed amidation of alcohols with nitriles:: A simple, cost-effective and recyclable catalytic system for Ritter reaction

Various benzylic, allylic and tertiary alcohols are converted into their corresponding amides in excellent yields, when reacted with various nitriles in the presence of 0.5 mol% of phosphomolybdic acid supported on silica gel at 80 degrees C under solvent-free conditions. The use of PMA-SiO2 makes it quite simple, more convenient and environmentally benign. This method offers several advantages such as high conversions, short reaction times, cleaner reaction profiles and the use of inexpensive and readily available PMA-SiO2. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.