Direct amide bond formation from carboxylic acids and amines using activated alumina balls as a new, convenient, clean, reusable and low cost heterogeneous catalyst

For the first time, we have used activated alumina balls (3–5 mm diameter) for amide synthesis from carboxylic acids (unactivated) and amines (unactivated) under neat reaction conditions that produce no toxic by-products and has the advantages of being low-cost, easily available, heterogeneous, reusable and environmentally benign with no troublesome/hazardous disposal of the catalyst.