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Updated: May 3, 2026

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
Published on: May 22, 2016
Oxidant-free conversion of cyclic amines to lactams and H2 using water as the oxygen atom source
Julia R Khusnutdinova1, Yehoshoa Ben-David, David Milstein
1Department of Organic Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
Abstract:
Direct conversion of cyclic amines to lactams utilizing water as the only reagent is catalyzed by pincer complex 2. In contrast to previously known methods of amine-to-amide conversion, this reaction occurs in the absence of oxidants and is accompanied by liberation of H2, with water serving as a source of oxygen atom. Formation of a cyclic hemiaminal intermediate plays a key role in enabling such reactivity. This represents an unprecedented, conceptually new type of amide formation reaction directly from amines and water under oxidant-free conditions.
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