Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2025

Imine Metathesis by Silica-Supported Catalysts Using the Methodology of Surface Organometallic Chemistry
Published on: October 18, 2019
Solvent-free amide bond formation using a variety of methoxysilanes as coupling agent
Thomas Lainer1, Frank Czerny2, Michael Haas1
1Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, 8010 Graz, Austria. michael.haas@tugraz.at.
Abstract:
A solvent-free procedure for the formation of amides without exclusion of air and moisture is described. Using tetramethoxysilane 1, hexamethoxydisilane 2 and dodecamethoxy-neopentasilane 3 as coupling agent carboxylic acids and amines are reacted to form amides in good to excellent yields. The formation of these amides was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Remarkably, neopentasilane 3 exceeds the performance of the currently used monosilanes as coupling agent in terms of group tolerance and yield.
Related Concept Videos
Preparation of Amides
The DCC-promoted synthesis of amides begins with the protonation of DCC by carboxylic acid. The protonation makes it a better acceptor. Next, the addition of carboxylate to the protonated carbodiimide gives a reactive acylating agent.
Subsequently, the amine acts as a nucleophile that attacks the acylating agent to form a tetrahedral intermediate. In the...
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine Formation Mechanism
Imines are formed under mildly acidic conditions. A pH of 4.5 is ideal for the reaction.
If the pH is low or the solution is too acidic, the reaction slows down in the...
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine and Enamine Formation Overview
Amides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis
Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis:
Hydrolysis of amides under acidic conditions yields carboxylic acids. Since the reaction occurs slowly, hydrolysis requires the conditions of heat.
The mechanism begins with the protonation of the carbonyl oxygen by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the amide carbonyl carbon more...
Amines to Amides: Acylation of Amines
Next, the second equivalent of amine serves as a Brønsted base and deprotonates the quaternary...
Carboxylic Acids to Methylesters: Alkylation using Diazomethane

