A Practical Way to Prepare Isobutyronitrile Amides through Reactions between Carboxylic Acids and Azobisisobutyronitrile

A practical and efficient synthesis of N-isobutyronitrile amides has been achieved through the direct condensation of carboxylic acid and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). Carboxylic acids bearing variously substituted phenyl rings and cinnamic or phenylpropiolic acids were employed to furnish both tertiary and secondary isobutyronitrile amides in moderate to high yields. A radical pathway was proposed. The methodology presented here requires no catalysts and additives, and represents the first practical approach to a variety of valuable amides containing the isobutyronitrile structural unit.