Amberlite IR-120 catalyzed, microwave-assisted one-pot synthesis of amides from nitriles by Ritter reaction

Department of Chemistry, Islamic Azad University-Babol Branch, Babol, Iran E-mail : h_ghasem2000@yahoo.it Fax : 98-111-2415132 Industrial Noshiravani University, Babol, Iran Manuscript received online 13 January 2013, revised 09 February 2013, accepted 05 March 2013 A variety of alkenes and alcohols undergo one-pot amidation with nitriles in the presence of amberlite IR-120 as a mild and effective catalyst under microwave irradiation and mild conditions to afford the corresponding secondary amides in good to excellent yields. This is a highly efficient method for the preparation of α-arylethyl amides especially from alcohols and vinyl arenas without any side reactions such as olefin polymerization. The use of readily available and easy to handle reagent amberlite IR-120 makes this method simple, convenient, and practical