KOtBu-Promoted Transition-Metal-Free Transamidation of Primary and Tertiary Amides with Amines

This work discloses transamidation of primary and tertiary amides with a range of aryl, heteroaryl, and aliphatic amines using potassium tert-butoxide. The reaction proceeds at room temperature under transition-metal-free conditions providing secondary amides in high yields. Moreover, reaction of cyclopropyl amine with tertiary amides proceeds with ring-opening to provide a rapid access to enamides.