HMF and furfural: Promising platform molecules in rhodium-catalyzed carbonylation reactions for the synthesis of furfuryl esters and tertiary amides

Abstract

A biomass involved rhodium-catalyzed carbonylative synthesis of furfuryl esters and tertiary amides has been developed. 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was used as both substrate and CO surrogate for the first time in a carbonylation reaction, and both alkyl and aryl iodides were tolerated well to afford the desired furfuryl esters in moderate to good yields. In addition, furfural was also utilized as a CO source for the synthesis of tertiary amides. A variety of tertiary amides were obtained in moderate to excellent yields with good functional groups compatibility. Notably, tertiary amines were used as the amine source through a CN bond cleavage pathway in the absence of additional oxidant.