Oxygen transfer reaction of haloalkyl amides catalyzed by phenylboronic acid

Nitrile derivatives are important building blocks in organic synthesis. Herein, we report the serendipitous discovery of an oxygen transfer reaction that produces hydroxyalkyl nitriles from the sequential dehydration and hydrolysis of haloalkyl amides. Product yields of up to 91% were achieved, and the phenylboronic acid was recovered as triphenylboroxine. The triphenylboroxine was reused as a catalyst without any loss of catalytic activity. A probable catalytic pathway was proposed based on control experiments and DFT calculations.