A Continuous‐Flow Method for the Transformation from Amides to Nitriles Catalyzed by CeO₂ in Acetonitrile

Abstract

A CeO 2 -catalyzed method for the transformation from amides to nitriles was developed using acetonitrile as the solvent and dehydrating reagent. The transformation proceeded via a formal "water transfer" reaction between the amides and acetonitrile. We propose that the presence of oxygen defect sites in CeO 2 is important in the mechanism of this transformation. Various nitriles could be continuously synthesized from amides in 75-96% yields via flow operation using a catalyst column packed with CeO 2 .