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Preparation of Nitriles

Preparation of Nitriles

One of the common methods to prepare nitriles is the dehydration of amides. This method requires strong dehydrating agents like phosphorous pentoxide or boiling acetic anhydride for converting amides to nitriles. Another reagent namely, thionyl chloride also accomplishes the dehydration of amides, where amide acts as a nucleophile. The first step of the mechanism involves the nucleophilic attack by the amide on the thionyl chloride to form an intermediate. In the next step, the electron pairs...

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Oximes and Nitro Compounds

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Oximes and Nitro Compounds

Oximes can be reduced to primary amines using catalytic hydrogenation, hydride reduction, or sodium metal reduction. The reduction of aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds to primary amines takes place by either catalytic hydrogenation or by using active metals like Fe, Zn, and Sn in the presence of an acid.
Though catalytic hydrogenation can reduce nitrobenzenes, the reduction is nonselective in the presence of other functional groups. For instance, if nitrobenzene contains an aldehyde group,...

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Amides and Nitriles

Preparation of Amines: Reduction of Amides and Nitriles

Nitriles can be reduced to primary amines using reducing agents like lithium aluminum hydride or catalytic hydrogenation. The reduction introduces an amino group with an extra carbon in the skeleton. Nitriles are formed from the reaction between alkyl halides and sodium cyanide through the SN2 mechanism. Primary alkyl halides are the preferred substrates to prepare nitriles.
Amides can be reduced to primary, secondary, and tertiary amines using catalytic hydrogenation, active metals like Fe,...

Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Nitration of Benzene

Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Nitration of Benzene

The nitration of benzene is an example of an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction. It involves the formation of a very powerful electrophile, the nitronium ion, which is linear in shape. The reaction occurs through the interaction of two strong acids, sulfuric and nitric acid.

Nitriles to Ketones: Grignard Reaction

Nitriles to Ketones: Grignard Reaction

Organomagnesium halides, commonly known as Grignard reagents, convert nitriles to ketones and proceed through a nucleophilic acyl substitution. Nitriles react with a Grignard reagent, followed by an aqueous acid, to yield ketones. The reaction introduces a new carbon–carbon bond. The alkyl–magnesium bond in the Grignard reagent is highly polar, so the alkyl carbon develops a carbanionic character and acts as a nucleophile.
The mechanism begins with a nucleophilic attack by the Grignard reagent...

Nitriles to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis

Nitriles to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis

Nitriles undergo acid-catalyzed hydrolysis or base-catalyzed hydrolysis to form a carboxylic acid. These reactions proceed via an amide intermediate.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Green Synthesis, Characterization, Encapsulation, and Measurement of the Release Potential of Novel Alkali Lignin Micro-/Submicron Particles

Green Synthesis, Characterization, Encapsulation, and Measurement of the Release Potential of Novel Alkali Lignin Micro-/Submicron Particles

Published on: March 1, 2024

Nitrilase and its application as a 'green' catalyst.

Ram Singh¹, Rakesh Sharma, Neetu Tewari

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007, India. singh_dr_ram@yahoo.com

Chemistry & Biodiversity

|December 29, 2006

Summary

Nitrilases, a type of hydrolase enzyme, are valuable catalysts for organic synthesis. They efficiently convert nitriles into carboxylic acids, offering green and selective methods for creating complex molecules.

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Green Synthesis, Characterization, Encapsulation, and Measurement of the Release Potential of Novel Alkali Lignin Micro-/Submicron Particles

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Area of Science:

Biocatalysis
Organic Chemistry
Enzyme Engineering

Background:

Hydrolase-catalyzed reactions are fundamental in organic synthesis.
Nitrilases are a key subclass of hydrolases, converting nitriles to carboxylic acids and ammonia.
These enzymes offer advantages like high selectivity and mild reaction conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To comprehensively review the applications of nitrilases in organic synthesis.
To highlight the use of nitrilases in fine-chemical and enantiospecific synthesis.
To document the isolation and characterization of nitrilases and related enzymes.

Main Methods:

Literature survey and comprehensive review of existing studies.
Analysis of nitrilase-catalyzed reactions for organic synthesis.
Compilation of data on enzyme isolation and characterization.

Main Results:

Nitrilases demonstrate significant enantio- and regioselectivities.
They serve as effective 'green' catalysts for synthesizing chiral compounds and carboxylic acid derivatives.
A broad range of nitrilase applications in organic synthesis has been documented.

Conclusions:

Nitrilases are versatile and sustainable biocatalysts for modern organic synthesis.
Their application facilitates the stereoselective synthesis of valuable chemical products.
Further research into nitrilase isolation and characterization will expand their utility.