Hydration of nitriles

In a process wherein a nitrile is hydrated to an amide in a deoxygenated reaction medium containing Raney copper catalyst;

• the improvement which comprises increasing catalyst activity by preoxidising the Raney copper catalyst, prior to contact with the reaction medium, with a controlled oxidising system comprising an oxidant selected from the group consisting of oxygen, peroxide, iodate, chlorate, bromate and nitrate to obtain Raney copper in a partially oxidised state ranging from about 0.1 to 30%, and then contacting the preoxidised Raney copper catalyst with the deoxygenated reaction medium.