Platinum catalysed hydrolytic amidation of unactivated nitriles

The platinum(II) complex, [(Me2PO .. H .. OPMe2)PtH(PMe2OH)], efficiently catalyses the direct conversion of unactivated nitriles to N-substituted amides with both primary and secondary amines. Possible mechanisms for this reaction are discussed and evidence for initial amidine formation is reported. Isolated yields vary from 51-89%. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.