Synthesis and characterization of rare earth/lithium complexes stabilized by ethylenediamine-bridged bis(phenolate) ligands and their activity in catalyzing amidation reactions

Rare earth/lithium complexes stabilized by ethylenediamine-bridged bis(phenolate) ligands have been synthesized and characterized. In addition to five rare earth/lithium amides isolated as major complexes, two other rare earth/lithium complexes bearing two phenolate ligands were also isolated. The activities of rare earth/lithium amides in catalyzing the amidation of aldehydes and amines were studied, which revealed that the yttrium/lithium complex was highly active for a wide range of substrates, generating 58 examples of amides in 42-99% yields under mild conditions (i.e., room temperature, 3-hour reaction time, additive-free). More importantly, this is the first example of rare earth-based catalysts capable of catalyzing the amidation of primary aliphatic amines.

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed amidation of aldehydes with amines via the tandem N-hydroxysuccinimide ester formation

A novel methodology for the construction of a wide variety of mono and di-substituted amides is developed, that utilizes readily available, non-hazardous, and cheaper starting reagents and simple imidazolium-based N-heterocyclic carbenes.

Copper and N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Oxidative Amidation of Aldehydes with Amines

A one-pot two-step oxidative process has been developed for the tert-butyl hydroperoxide mediated transformation of aldehydes and amines into amides catalyzed by copper(I) iodide and an N-heterocyclic carbene. The process is additive-free and does not require the amine to be transformed into its hydrochloride salts. The method is simple and practicable, has a broad substrate scope, and uses economical, feasible, and abundant reagents.