Synlett 2011(11): 1481-1485  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1260779
SYNPACTS
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Atom-Economical Synthesis of Cyclic Imides

Senthilkumar Muthaiah, Soon Hyeok Hong*
Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, ­Singapore 637371, Singapore
Fax: +65(6791)1961; e-Mail: soonhong@snu.ac.kr;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 17 January 2011
Publication Date:
10 June 2011 (online)

Abstract

Cyclic imides were synthesized from simple diols with primary amines in a single step using an in situ generated ruthenium catalytic system. The developed methodology is atom economical and operatively simple for the syntheses of succinimides, phthalimides, and glutarimides, which are important building blocks in natural products and drugs. Other recent approaches for the cyclic imide synthesis were also reviewed.