Direct amidation of esters with nitroarenes

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14878
• Publication Date: 2017-03-27T09:34:27Z
• Authors: Chi Wai Cheung; Marten Leendert P...; Xile Hu
• Keywords: Science; Q; 01 natural sciences; Article; 0104 chemical sciences

Abstract Esters are one of the most common functional groups in natural and synthetic products, one-step conversion ester group into other is an attractive strategy organic synthesis. Direct amidation esters particularly appealing due to omnipresence amide moiety biomolecules, fine chemicals, drug candidates. However, efficient methods for direct unactivated still lacking. Here we report nickel-catalysed reductive coupling with nitroarenes furnish step a wide range amides bearing relevant development drugs agrochemicals. The method has been used expedite syntheses bio-active molecules as well their post-synthetic modifications. Preliminary mechanistic study indicates reaction pathway distinct from conventional using anilines nitrogen sources. work provides novel