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Updated: May 12, 2026

Protocol for the Synthesis of Ortho-trifluoromethoxylated Aniline Derivatives
Published on: January 19, 2016
Direct synthesis of amides from carboxylic acids and amines using B(OCH2CF3)3
Rachel M Lanigan1, Pavel Starkov, Tom D Sheppard
1Department of Chemistry, University College London, Christopher Ingold Laboratories, 20 Gordon St, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
Abstract:
B(OCH2CF3)3, prepared from readily available B2O3 and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, is as an effective reagent for the direct amidation of a variety of carboxylic acids with a broad range of amines. In most cases, the amide products can be purified by a simple filtration procedure using commercially available resins, with no need for aqueous workup or chromatography. The amidation of N-protected amino acids with both primary and secondary amines proceeds effectively, with very low levels of racemization. B(OCH2CF3)3 can also be used for the formylation of a range of amines in good to excellent yield, via transamidation of dimethylformamide.
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