Iron-Catalyzed Amidation of Aldehydes with N-Chloroamines

A new direct conversion of aldehydes to amides has been realized, in the presence of iron(III) chloride as a catalyst and using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant. Both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes were successfully reacted with variously mono- and di-substituted N-chloroamines. The methodology has a wide substrate scope, uses cheap and easily available reagents and is characterized by short reaction times.