Matthias Beller and colleagues from Rostock University have used iron carbonyl clusters, such as Fe₂(CO)₉ and [Et₃NH][HFE₃(CO)₁₁, for the dehydration of amides into the corresponding nitriles, in the presence of silanes, in high yields.

'Aromatic and aliphatic nitriles constitute important intermediates for the chemical industry and as building blocks for organic synthesis' explains Beller. 'In the past organometallic catalysis was dominated by the application of precious metal-based catalyst systems, however recently researchers demonstrate more and more that bio-relevant metals such as iron can be used with similar efficiency.'

'While studying the catalytic reduction of amides with silanes, we discovered by accident this novel reaction' says Beller. 'This unusual dehydration procedure has only been reported once before, by Nagashima and co-workers, who applied a ruthenium carbonyl cluster catalyst at high temperature.' 

The group plans to continue their research into more benign reduction protocols of carboxylic acid derivatives. 'I am sure we will see within the next 12 months new procedures - probably based on iron catalysis - for these important and challenging reactions' predicts Beller. 

Rachel Cooper