Cu/Ag-Promoted Oxidative Amidation of Aldehydes with Amine Hydrochlorides

Significance

The amide group is broadly presented among biologically active products, polymers and other compounds of industrial interest. The authors reported here a simple, practical and easily scalable catalytic method for the conversion of aldehydes (preferably benzaldehydes) into the corresponding amides in a one-pot reaction in the presence of a primary amine and aqueous t-BuO₂H as a stoichiometric oxidizer. The method avoids the formation of the intermediate acids and can tolerate various functional groups. α-Aminoacid esters can be acylated by this method with the complete retention of chirality.