Improved and Extended One-Step Conversion of Primary Amines into Nitriles by Copper-Catalyzed Oxidation

Abstract

An improved and extended methodology for Kametani's oxidation of primary amines to nitriles by the [CU(I)Cl/O₂/pyridine] system is reported. By this procedure aliphatic or aromatic nitriles are obtained in almost quantitative yields with very high purity.