A first example of diphenylborinic acid catalyzed α-addition to isocyanide with aldehyde and water is described. The reaction proceeded smoothly in the presence of water and 5 mol % of borinic acid to give the corresponding α-hydroxyamides in good to high yields. A wide range of aldehydes and isocyanides are applicable to this reaction.
reaction. However, this catalytic process was limited. Herein, we report the first examples of 3,5,6-trifluoro-2-pyridone-catalyzed α-addition of isocyanides to aldehydes, in the presence of water in benzene, to provide α-hydroxyamides. Various aldehydes and isocyanides performed well in this reaction to provide the α-hydroxyamides. Even highly constrained substrates were well tolerated. The reaction