Copper(II)-catalyzed dehydration of primary amides to nitriles with the aid of trichloroacetonitrile

A method for the preparation of nitriles from primary amides using trichloroacetonitrile and a catalytic amount of cupric acetate is described. Using this method, amides including aromatic amides, aromatic heterocyclic amides and aliphatic amides were converted into the corresponding nitriles in moderate to good yields. Trichloroacetonitrile reacted with amide in the presence of cupric acetate to form trichloroacetamide, which has been isolated and confirmed.