Hydrolysis of nitrile catalyzed by a tripalladium complex

Abstract

Metal cluster catalysis is a topic that has attracted much attention because clusters can be superior catalysts than homogeneous ones. A tripalladium complex Pd3, supported by a multiple dentate 2,7-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,8-naphthyridine is a good catalyst for hydrolysis of nitrile into the corresponding amides under mild and neutral conditions. Typically, 3-methoxypropanenitrile was hydrolyzed into 3-methoxypropanamide quantitatively with the use of Pd3 (1 mol%) and AgBF4 as the catalyst in water/THF at 50 °C for 16 h.