Direct NHC-catalysed redox amidation using CO for traceless masking of amine nucleophiles

The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalysed redox amidation reaction is poorly developed and usually requires catalytic co-additives for electron-rich amine nucleophiles. We report a masking strategy (using CO 2 ) that couples release of the free amine nucleophile to catalytic turnover, and in doing so, enables direct catalytic redox amidation of electron-rich amines. We report an amine masking strategy for N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalysed redox amidation that couples release of the free nucleophile to catalytic turnover, and in doing so, enables direct reaction of electron-rich amines.