An Efficient Method for the Preparation of N-Alkylamides from Alkyl Diphenylphosphinites and Amides by Using Methyl Acrylate

N,N-Dibenzyltrifluoroacetamide was formed in good yield by treating benzyl diphenylphosphinite with N-benzyltrifluoroacetamide in the presence of easily available methyl acrylate under mild conditions. Yields obtained for the corresponding inverted sulfonamides were good to high in the cases when alkyl diphenylphosphinites derived from chiral secondary alcohols were used.