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.