Abstract
Benzonitrile, benzyl cyanide, acetonitrile and 2-cyanopyridine give the corresponding amides by the hydration with nickel catalysts and water. The effect of pyridine and thiophene on the hydration has been investigated. In general, the yield of amides increases upon the addition of a suitable amount of pyridine. On the contrary, the reaction is distinctly suppressed by the addition of thiophene. This fact is in striking contrast to the effect on the hydrogenation of nitriles. The correlation of the catalytic functions in hydration and the hydrogenation of nitriles has been studied, and the hydration mechanism with nickel catalysts has been discussed.

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