A mild hydration of nitriles into amides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)76229-0

Stirring mixtures of β-hydroxynitriles with manganese dioxide, deposited onto silica gel for a few days at room temperature resulted in the formation of the corresponding amides in fair to good yields. The unprecedented conversion of 3-hydroxyglutarodinitrile into the corresponding monoamide has been performed by this methodology.