Aerobic Amide Bond Formation with <i>N</i>‐hydroxysuccinimide

Abstract

Breathe easy: Molecular oxygen is one of the most abundant, atom-efficient, and economical oxidants. An aerobic oxidative amide formation from aldehydes and amines is reported. The method uses a catalytic amount of Co(OAc)2 and N-hydroxysuccinimide as reaction promoters. It is applicable to chiral substrates without loss of their optical purity.