To catalyze or not to catalyze? Insight into direct amide bond formation from amines and carboxylic acids under thermal and catalyzed conditions

Kinetic studies show that the direct formation of amides from amines and carboxylic acids without catalyst does occur under relatively low temperature conditions, but is highly substrate dependent. Boric and boronic acid-based catalysts improve the reaction, especially for less reactive acids, and initial results indicate that bifunctional catalysts show even Greater potential.