Selective and efficient heterogeneous hydration of nitriles to amides using silica supported manganese dioxide

A highly efficient and selective method for hydration of nitriles to amides without formation of any detectable amount of acid, under heterogeneous reaction condition using silica supported manganese dioxide is reported. The mechanism of the reaction has been discussed. The reagent preparation is easy and carried out under microwave exposure within 5 min. The silica supported MnO2 reagent has been characterized by DRIFT and XRD techniques. Quantitative yields are obtained for commercially important heterocyclic amides such as pyridinecarboxamide, nicotinamide and pyrazinamide.