Potassium tert-Butoxide Prompted Highly Efficient Transamidation and Its Coordination Radical Mechanism

A simple and highly efficient protocol was developed for the transamidation of N,N-disubstituted amides with primary amines in the presence of tBuOK, affording desired products in good to excellent yields. This reaction proceeded under nitrogen atmosphere and featured extensive substrate tolerance. Experimental investigation suggested that a coordination radical process enhanced this transformation.