Non-Classical Amide Bond Formation: Transamidation and Amidation of Activated Amides and Esters by Selective N–C/O–C Cleavage

In the past several years, tremendous advances have been made in non-classical routes for amide bond formation that involve transamidation and amidation reactions of activated amides and esters. These new methods enable the formation of extremely valuable amide bonds via transition-metal-catalyzed, transition-metal-free, or metal-free pathways by exploiting chemoselective acyl C–X (X = N, O) cleavage under mild conditions. In a broadest sense, these reactions overcome the formidable challenge of activating C–N/C–O bonds of amides or esters by rationally tackling nN → π*C=O delocalization in amides and nO → π*C=O donation in esters. In this account, we summarize the recent remarkable advances in the development of new methods for the synthesis of amides with a focus on (1) transition-metal/NHC-catalyzed C–N/C–O bond activation, (2) transition-metal-free highly selective cleavage of C–N/C–O bonds, (3) the development of new acyl-transfer reagents, and (4) other emerging methods.1 Introduction2 Transamidation of Amides2.1 Transamidation by Metal–NHC Catalysis (Pd–NHC, Ni–NHC)2.2 Transition-Metal-Free Transamidation via Tetrahedral Intermediates2.3 Reductive Transamidation2.4 New Acyl-Transfer Reagents2.5 Tandem Transamidations3 Amidation of Esters3.1 Amidation of Esters by Metal–NHC Catalysis (Pd–NHC, Ni–NHC)3.2 Transition-Metal-Free Amidation of Esters via Tetrahedral Intermediates3.3 Reductive Amidation of Esters4 Transamidations of Amides by Other Mechanisms5 Conclusions and Outlook

The effect of the electrophilic group on the hierarchy of nucleofuges in the aminolysis reactions of thiol- and dithiocarbonates with secondary alicyclic amines: A kinetic and theoretical study

Thiol- and dithiocarbonates react with amines, forming tetrahedral intermediates and then different product ratios. Theoretical results show that the product ratio depends on the water microsolvation of the electrophilic group in the anionic intermediate.

Evidence and isolation of tetrahedral intermediates formed upon the addition of lithium carbenoids to Weinreb amides and N-acylpyrroles

Trapping tetrahedral intermediates from Weinreb amides andN-acylpyrroles.

Carbon–carbon bond cleavage for Cu-mediated aromatic trifluoromethylations and pentafluoroethylations

This short review highlights the copper-mediated fluoroalkylation using perfluoroalkylated carboxylic acid derivatives. Carbon–carbon bond cleavage of perfluoroalkylated carboxylic acid derivatives takes place in fluoroalkylation reactions at high temperature (150–200 °C) or under basic conditions to generate fluoroalkyl anion sources for the formation of fluoroalkylcopper species. The fluoroalkylation reactions, which proceed through decarboxylation or tetrahedral intermediates, are useful protocols for the synthesis of fluoroalkylated aromatics.