Metal-Free Transamidation of Primary Amides using Trimethylsilyl Chloride

A metal-free transamidation of primary amides was developed. Trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSCl) acted as the activator in transamidation. In the presence of TMSCl, primary amides reacted with primary amines to yield transamidated secondary amides in NMP solvent. The transamidation of benzamide with secondary amines for the formation of tertiary amides succeeds in an NMP/CHCl3 solvent mixture.