Synthesis
General procedure for the synthesis of cycloheptanamide from cycloheptanecarbonitrile: To a solution of nitromethane (1 mL) containing cycloheptanecarbonitrile (1.00 g, 8.12 mmol) was added sequentially, at room temperature, water (1 mL), DBU (2.47 g, 16.2 mmol), copper(I) iodide (309 mg, 1.62 mmol), and caesium carbonate(I) (1.32 g, 4.06 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated to 90°C and maintained for 8 hours. After completion of the reaction, the mixture was poured into water (50 mL) and the organic layer was separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with chloroform (CHCl3), the organic layers were combined and dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate (MgSO4). The solvent was removed by concentration under reduced pressure and the resulting brown solid was washed with hexane to give the final cycloheptanamide (499 mg, 44% yield) with a melting point of 192-194 °C.
References
[1] Synlett, 2018, vol. 29, # 15, p. 2061 - 2065
