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Updated: May 27, 2026

Facile Preparation of (2Z,4E)-Dienamides by the Olefination of Electron-deficient Alkenes with Allyl Acetate
Published on: June 21, 2017
A mechanistic study on the amidation of esters mediated by sodium formamide
Antonio Ramirez1, Boguslaw Mudryk, Lucius Rossano
1Chemical Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, One Squibb Drive, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, United States. antonio.ramirez1@bms.com
Abstract:
Kinetic and computational studies on the amidation of esters with mixtures of formamide and sodium methoxide are described. Rate studies are consistent with a fast deprotonation of formamide followed by two reversible acyl transfers affected by solvent participation. MP2 calculations suggest that the first acyl transfer between the ester and sodium formamide is rate-determining. The transition structures leading to the formation and collapse of the first tetrahedral intermediate are calculated to be isoenergetic.
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