N-heterocyclic carbene based ruthenium-catalyzed direct amide synthesis from alcohols and secondary amines: involvement of esters.

A well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene based ruthenium complex was developed as a highly active precatalyst for the direct amide synthesis from alcohols and secondary amines. Notably, reaction of 1-hexanol and dibenzylamine afforded 60% of the corresponding amide using our catalytic system, while no amide formation was observed for this reaction with the previously reported catalytic systems. Unlike the previously reported amidation with less sterically hindered alcohols and amines, involvement of ester intermediates was observed.