Work

Paired Electrochemical Decarboxylative Amidation of α‐Ketoacids With Nitroarenes

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We report a paired electrochemical decarboxylative amidation of α-ketoacids with nitroarenes for the direct synthesis of N-aryl amides. Ferrocene-mediated anodic decarboxylation generates acyl radicals, while cathodic reduction of nitroarenes enables the in situ generation of reactive nitrogen-containing intermediates, thereby providing a direct route to C─N bond formation without preforming aniline coupling partners. The transformation proceeds under mild, transition-metal-catalyst-free conditions without stoichiometric chemical oxidants or reductants. A broad range of α-ketoacids and nitroarenes are compatible with the reaction, affording the corresponding N-aryl amides with excellent functional-group tolerance. Mechanistic studies support the involvement of acyl and nitrogen-containing intermediates in the amidation process.

Source: Chemistry - A European Journal

DOI: 10.1002/chem.71706

Authors: Yun Sa, Huirong Wang, Duanyang Kong

Institutions: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Inner Mongolia Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Radical Photochemical Reactions

Subfield: Organic Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

Awards: G1370922483, G9000358714