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Updated: Apr 1, 2026

A Microwave-Assisted Direct Heteroarylation of Ketones Using Transition Metal Catalysis
Published on: February 16, 2020
An Electrochemically Driven Dual-Oxidation Strategy for Decarboxylative Amidation of α-Ketoacids and Heteroaryl
Yun Sa1, Mengyuan Wei1, Fanqihang Yang1
1State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Design and Manufacturing for Hydrogen Energy Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
Abstract:
Heteroaryl amides are ubiquitous motifs in bioactive molecules, yet their efficient synthesis remains challenging due to the high oxidation potential and low nucleophilicity of heteroaryl amines. Herein, we report a redox-mediator-controlled electrochemical strategy for the decarboxylative amidation of α-ketoacids with heteroaryl amines. In this dual-oxidation approach, mediated by ferrocene, both the α-ketoacid and the amine undergo simultaneous single-electron oxidation, generating an acyl radical and a nitrogen-centered radical that cross-couple to afford the desired amides. The method operates under mild conditions, requires no external oxidants, exhibits broad substrate scope, and is readily applicable on a gram scale.
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