A Practical and Convenient Procedure for the N-Formylation of Amines Using Formic Acid

Abstract

Despitethe usefulness of these reagents, such as high yields and mildconditions, they are less practical: they are either toxic orexpensive and the preparation and use of these reagentsrequire strictly anhydrous conditions. We now report a practical formylation procedure usingaqueous 85% formic acid. The reaction of amine withformic acid first appeared in 1955.