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The Ritter reaction is a chemical reaction that transforms a nitrile into a N-alkyl amide using various alkylating reagents, for example, strong acid and isobutylene.



Primary, secondary , tertiary , and benzylic alcohols, as well as tert-butyl acetate , also  successfully react with nitriles in the presence of strong acids to form amides via the Ritter reaction.

History
Who discovered = John J. Ritter how original work why they were studying it

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1948, 70 (12), pp 4045–4048

Ritter, J. J., Kalish, J.; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1948, 70, 4048.

Ritter, J. J., Kalish, J.; Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 5, p.471 (1973); Vol. 44, p.44 (1964)

Reaction mechanism
The Ritter reaction proceeds by the electrophilic addition of either the carbenium ion 2 or covalent species  to the nitrile. The resulting nitrilium ion 3 is hydrolyzed by water to the desired amide 5.