Synlett 2020; 31(04): 369-372
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1690786
letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

An Efficient Palladium-Catalysed Aminocarbonylation of Benzyl Chlorides

Eloise Rilvin-Derrick
,
Niall Oram
,
Discovery Research and Technologies, Eli Lilly and Company, Erl Wood Manor, Sunninghill Road, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6PH, UK   Email: Richardson_jeffery@lilly.com
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 09 November 2019

Accepted after revision: 11 December 2019

Publication Date:
10 January 2020 (online)


Abstract

An improved procedure for the aminocarbonylation of benzyl chloride derivatives using carbon monoxide and either primary or secondary amines has been developed. Studying the competing background alkylation reaction allowed the solvent and base to be selected for a simple catalyst screen, which, in turn, enabled the discovery of a method for the preparation of 2-arylacetamides under mild conditions, with minimal side-products using an inexpensive phosphine ligand. This non-traditional optimisation strategy allowed us to overcome the background alkylation, which has been cited as justification for the development of more complex and less atom-economical approaches.

Supporting Information