The von Braun amide degradation is the chemical reaction of a monosubstituted amide with phosphorus pentachloride or thionyl chloride to give a nitrile and an organohalide.
A monosubstituted amide undergoes a chemical reaction with phosphorus pentachloride or thionyl chloride, leading to the production of a nitrile and an organohalide, which is analogous to the von Braun amide degradation.