A Novel Method for the Conversion of Carboxylic Acids to N,N -dimethylamides Using N,N -dimethylacetamide as a Dimethylamine Source

A simple, cost effective and environmentally benign method is reported for the preparation of N,N-dimethylamides from carboxylic acids. The versatility of the method is determined by synthesising a large number of N,N-dimethyl-amide derivatives. Carboxylic acids are heated at 160–165 °C in N,N-dimethylacetamide solvent in the presence of 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole to afford the corresponding N,N-dimethylamides in good to excellent yields.