We report a facile method for forming amide bonds between acylsilanes and a wide range of amines in the presence of a mild chlorinating agent under aqueous acidic conditions. The reaction is highly chemoselective, as exemplified by the late-stage modification of a panel of approved drugs and natural products containing reactive functionalities.
A convenient and user-friendly method to yield benzamides from primary and secondary amines and various benzylic alcohols in the presence of a cheap iron salt (FeCl2 center dot 4H(2)O) and tert-butylhydroperoxide (70% in water) as a stoichiometric oxidant is described. Control experiments indicated that this reaction might involve radical species. This method proved to be general, generating a family of 30 benzamides and was applied to the preparative synthesis of anti-anxiety drug moclobemide. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.