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Updated: Sep 11, 2025

Synthesis of Hypervalent Iodonium Alkynyl Triflates for the Application of Generating Cyanocarbenes
Published on: September 8, 2013
Copper-catalyzed direct amide bond formation from amines and carboxylic acids via isothiocyanate activation
Pinyong Zhong1, Kunming Liu1, Fumin Liao1
1Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Materials Chemistry, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China. liujinbiao@jxust.edu.cn.
Abstract:
An efficient catalytic method for the direct synthesis of amides from non-activated carboxylic acids under mild conditions is described. Amines couple with isothiocyanates to form thiourea intermediates, followed by copper-mediated desulfurization to generate reactive carbodiimides in situ, which can rapidly combine with unactivated acids to form amides. The influence of the electronic effects of substituents on carbodiimides on reaction selectivity is discussed. This protocol exhibits broad functional group compatibility, is applicable to the late-stage functionalization of pharmaceuticals and peptides, and provides a new approach for late-stage functionalization.
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