An efficient synthesis of N-tert-butyl amides by the reaction of tert-butyl benzoate with nitriles catalyzed by Zn(ClO4)2·6H2O

An efficient, mild and inexpensive synthesis of N-tert-butyl amides from the reaction of nitriles (aryl, benzyl and sec-alkyl nitriles) with tert-butyl benzoate catalyzed by the employment of 2 mol% Zn(ClO4)2·6H2O at 50 °C under the solvent-free conditions is described. The reaction with aryl nitriles was carried out well and afforded the N-tert-butyl amides in 87–97% yields after 1 h. The benzyl and sec-alkyl nitriles also proceeded well and produced the N-tert-butyl amides in 83–91% yields after 5 h.