One-Pot Conversion of Alcohols into Amides via Oximes

12 March 2007

The group of Jonathan Williams at the University of Bath UK, in collaboration with the Process R&D Dept of Astra Zeneca has recently published a method of direct conversion of alcohols to amides using iridium catalysts. Initially the aldehyde is formed by catalytic transfer hydrogenation between styrene and the alcohol and in the presence of hydroxylamine the oxime is formed, as expected. The iridium catalyst now acts to isomerise the oxime to the amide. (Org Lett , 2007, 9(1) 73-75). At present the reaction only works with benzylic alcohols; for aliphatic alcohols the oxidation to aldehyde does not take place and alternative reagents and conditions are presently being examined to try to solve this
problem.