Rhodium‐Mediated Oxygenation of Nitriles with Dioxygen: Isolation of Rhodium Derivatives of Peroxyimidic Acids

Dioxygen is used as the oxygenation agent in the rhodium‐mediated conversion of nitriles into amides. The characterization of intermediate species and model compounds as well as isotope‐labeling studies provided an insight into the reaction mechanism. The conversions of rhodium hydroperoxido or methylperoxido complexes with nitriles into metallacyclic rhodium‐ κ²‐(N,O)‐peroxyimidate compounds represent essential key steps. The former are accessible from a rhodium(III) peroxido complex and the latter represent rhodium derivatives of Payne’s reagent (peroxyimidic acids).