Li Junmei, Xu Fan, Zhang Yong, Shen Qi
Key Laboratory of Organic Synthesis of Jiangsu Province, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Dushu Lake Campus, Suzhou University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China.
J Org Chem. 2009 Mar 20;74(6):2575-7. doi: 10.1021/jo802617d.
Heterobimetallic lanthanide/sodium phenoxides were found to be efficient catalysts for amidation of aldehydes with amines under mild conditions. The reactivity follows the order Nd < Y < Sm for metals and 2,6-(Me)2C6H3O < 2,6-(iPr)2C6H3O < 2,6-(tBu)2C6H3O for phenoxide groups. In comparison with the corresponding monometallic complexes, heterobimetallic complexes show higher activity and a wider range of scope of amines. A cooperation of lanthanide and sodium in this process is proposed to contribute to the high activity of the present catalyst.
