Direct synthesis of amides from nonactivated carboxylic acids using urea as nitrogen source and Mg(NO₃)₂or imidazole as catalysts

O or imidazole as a low-cost and readily available catalyst, and urea as a stable, and easy to manipulate nitrogen source. This methodology is particularly useful for the direct synthesis of primary and methyl amides avoiding the use of ammonia and methylamine gas which can be tedious to manipulate. Furthermore, the transformation does not require the employment of coupling or activating agents which are commonly required.