'Dry' hydrolysis of nitriles by sodium perborate and copper salts in heterogeneous media

Nitriles react with sodium perborate or copper salts to yield carboxylic acids under mild acidic conditions. The multiphase reaction can be carried out in the absence of solvent, water, added acid or base. The yields are good, and the nitrile group can be hydrolysed in the presence of other functional groups. A comparative study between microwave and conventional heating shows that there is no specific activation from the electromagnetic field. However, careful attention to temperature and pressure measurements in the experimental apparatus is clearly needed.