Patent ID: 7838271

Claim:
A method for preparing amides of the general formula R 1 —CONH 2 III wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of a C 1-6 -alkyl radical, a C 2-6 -alkenyl group or a group of the general formula wherein X is a nitrogen atom or —CH═, wherein R 2 and R 3 are selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 1-6 -alkyl group or a C 2-6 -alkenyl group, wherein said method a nitrile of the general formula R 1 —CN II, in which R 1 is selected from the group consisting of a C 1-6 -alkyl radical, a C 2-6 -alkenyl group or a group of the general formula is converted by means of a biologically pure culture of a microorganism which is a member of the strain Rhodococcus sp. FZ4, deposited with the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH (DSM), Mascheroder Weg 1b, D-38124 Braunschweig on Jul. 11, 2000 and assigned the deposit number 13597, having all the characteristics of said strain and being capable of tolerating an acetonitrile concentration of at least 3M or an enzyme extract obtained from a biologically pure culture of a microorganism which is a member of the strain Rhodococcus sp. FZ4, deposited with the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH (DSM), Mascheroder Weg 1b, D-38124 Braunschweig on Jul. 11, 2000 and assigned the deposit number 13597, having all the characteristics of said strain and being capable of tolerating an acetonitrile concentration of at least 3M.