Reaction of olefins with nitriles under solvent-free conditions using molecular iodine as a catalyst in the presence of water.

The reaction of olefins with nitriles using iodine as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions was investigated. The reaction of cycloolefins, such as cyclopentene and cyclohexene, with benzonitrile using iodine as a catalyst produced both amide and heterocyclic compounds. The reaction of chiral (+)-camphene with benzonitrile produced racemic (±)-N-isobornylbenzamide (N-((1S,2S,4S)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)benzamide). This indicated that skeletal rearrangement of camphene as well as amidation occurred. The optimized conditions were determined to be as follows: temperature, 90°C; molar ratio of nitrile:alcohol:iodine:water, 1:5:0.2:1.0; and reaction time, 18 h. The yield was 87% under these conditions. The reaction of (+)-camphene also proceeded with the other aromatic and aliphatic nitriles to produce racemic isobornylamides. However, except for styrene, complex reactions occurred in the reactions of benzonitrile with other terpenic olefins.