Highly efficient one-step microwave-assisted synthesis of structurally diverse bis-substituted α-amino acid derived diimides.

We report herein a facile and widely applicable microwave-assisted protocol for the synthesis of symmetrical diimides based on three structurally distinct aromatic dianhydrides: pyromellitic (PMA), biphenyl-tetracarboxylic acid (BPDA) and benzophenone-tetracarboxylic (BTDA) and five natural amino acids (Phe, Tyr, Ile, Lys, Cys). Fifteen symmetrical diimides with different structural characteristics containing a variety of functional groups can be produced with high yields and on a large scale.