An Efficient Catalytic Amidation of Esters Promoted by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

Abstract

An efficient NHC-catalyzed amidation between esters and amines or hydrazines is described. This strategy was tolerant for a wide scope of substrates, affording a series of amides (or hydrazides) in good to excellent yields (60–96%) under simple conditions. The approach was also used to synthesize the pharmaceutically relevant antidepressant moclobemide in 85% yield.