Iron-Catalyzed Direct Synthesis of Amides from Methylarenes

An efficient, green and first catalytic process has been developed for the direct synthesis of amides from readily available petroleum by-products (methylarenes) and amines using an iron catalyst. In this new catalytic reaction, the methyl group of the methylarene is oxidized to the corresponding aldehyde through non-directed C-(sp3)-H oxidation followed by its oxidative amidation with N-chloroamine, yielding the carboxylic amide. Oxidation with an iron catalyst, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as sole oxidant, the synthesis of amides under mild reaction conditions and the utilization of methylarenes as starting material make this methodology novel and environmentally benign.