A mild alkaline hydrolysis of N- and N,N-substituted amides and nitriles

Abstract

A mild protocol for the alkaline hydrolysis of secondary and tertiary amides in non-aqueous conditions, by the use of NaOH in methanol/dichloromethane or methanol/dioxane (1:9) at room temperature or under reflux, has been developed and a plausible reaction mechanism is discussed. Primary amides are hydrolyzed much slower than with the classical procedure, while nitriles are converted selectively to primary amides.