Efficient Approach to Amide Bond Formation with Nitriles and Peroxides: One-Pot Access to Boronated [beta]-Ketoamides

An efficient, mild and practical approach for the synthesis of amides from nitriles and peroxides is reported in the presence of boron trifluoride ethereate. In this protocol, we utilized peroxides as C1 synthons for the amidation reaction. Also, we successfully prepared boron-containing [beta]-ketoamides in a one-pot assembly from [beta]-ketonitriles. A variety of functional groups were tolerated in moderate to good yields. Radical inhibition studies showed that the reaction proceeded via a non-radical pathway.