Synthesis 2019; 51(07): 1595-1602
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1610355
paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

An Efficient Catalytic Amidation of Esters Promoted by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, 333 Longteng Road, Shanghai 201620, China   Email: lingyan.chen@hotmail.com
,
Mei-Fang Wu
› Author Affiliations
The authors are grateful for financial support from the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry, and the Students Innovation Program in Shanghai University of Engineering Science (cs1704005).
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Publication History

Received: 23 August 2018

Accepted after revision: 13 November 2018

Publication Date:
19 December 2018 (online)


Abstract

An efficient NHC-catalyzed amidation between esters and amines or hydrazines is described. This strategy was tolerant for a wide scope of substrates, affording a series of amides (or hydrazides) in good to excellent yields (60–96%) under simple conditions. The approach was also used to synthesize the pharmaceutically relevant antidepressant moclobemide in 85% yield.

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