A Mild Synthesis of Bicyclic Alkoxyoxazolium Salts from Proline and Pipecolic Acid Derivatives

Challenges and Breakthroughs in Selective Amide Activation

In contrast to ketones and carboxylic esters, amides are classically seen as comparatively unreactive members of the carbonyl family, owing to their unique structural and electronic features. However, recent decades have seen the emergence of research programmes focused on the selective activation of amides under mild conditions. In the past four years, this area has continued to rapidly develop, with new advances coming in at a fast pace. Several novel activation strategies have been demonstrated as effective tools for selective amide activation, enabling transformations that are at once synthetically useful and mechanistically intriguing. This Minireview comprises recent advances in the field, highlighting new trends and breakthroughs in what could be called a new age of amide activation.

Challenges and Breakthroughs in Selective Amide Activation

In contrast to ketones and carboxylic esters, amides are classically seen as comparatively unreactive members of the carbonyl family, owing to their unique structural and electronic features. However, recent decades have seen the emergence of research programmes focused on the selective activation of amides under mild conditions. In the past four years, this area has continued to rapidly develop, with new advances coming in at a fast pace. Several novel activation strategies have been demonstrated as effective tools for selective amide activation, enabling transformations that are at once synthetically useful and mechanistically intriguing. This Minireview comprises recent advances in the field, highlighting new trends and breakthroughs in what could be called a new age of amide activation.

A Novel Class of 7-Membered Heterocyclic Compounds

The work presented herein describes the synthesis of a formerly inaccessible class of heterocyclic compounds. The reaction relies on α‐phthalimido‐amides, which are readily prepared from amino acids in 2 simple reactions steps. Under amide activation conditions in which classical keteniminium ions are not formed, the nitrile solvent is incorporated into the new fused 7‐membered ring system. Due to the absence of a keteniminium intermediate, the stereogenic information in the α‐position is fully retained.