Nitriles are hydrolyzed to amides and then to carboxylic acids in the presence of H⁺ or OH⁻ as catalysts. Mild reaction conditions are employed to halt the reaction at the amide stage.
How are carboxylic acids obtained from nitriles, and what catalytic conditions are used to control the reaction and stop it at the amide stage?
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Carboxylic acids can be obtained from nitriles through a hydrolysis reaction, often referred to as nitrile hydrolysis. The reaction is typically carried out under acidic conditions, using a strong acid such as concentrated sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) or hydrochloric acid (HCl). The acid catalyzes the hydrolysis of the nitrile, initially converting it to an amide intermediate. To control the reaction and stop it at the amide stage, mild catalytic conditions with lower concentrations of acid and lower reaction temperatures are employed. This allows for a controlled and selective conversion of nitriles to amides without further hydrolysis to carboxylic acids.