N-Acylcarbazole as a Selective Transamidation Reagent

N-acylation reaction offers an opportunity to develop an efficient synthesis of amide group-containing molecules. We found that N-acyl carbazoles showed remarkable selectivity in transamidation. Sterically less hindered primary amines are selectively acylated with N-acyl carbazoles without any additives. Various functional groups such as alcohol, phenol, indole, and aniline moieties are tolerated under mild conditions. The synthetic utility was displayed in one-pot synthesis of an N-acyl polyamine natural product. The terminal amines of spermidine were selectively benzoylated with N-benzoyl carbazole, followed by acetylation reaction accomplished the total synthesis in a highly efficient manner.