Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative coupling of aryl acetaldehydes with anilines leading to α-ketoamides

Abstract

Efficient and practical: The title reaction provides an efficient route to α-ketoamides compounds, which are ubiquitous structural units in a number of biologically active compounds. N-substituted anilines are suitable substrates for this transformation. Two C sp 3-H bonds as well as one C sp 2-H and one N-H bond are cleaved in this reaction. Molecular oxygen (1 atm) is used as the oxidant and the reaction involves dioxygen activation. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.