Radical condensation between benzylic alcohols and acetamides to form 3-arylpropanamides

Kobra Azizi, Robert Madsen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

A new radical condensation reaction is developed where benzylic alcohols and acetamides are coupled to generate 3-arylpropanamides with water as the only byproduct. The transformation is performed with potassium tert-butoxide as the only additive and gives rise to a variety of 3-arylpropanamides in good yields. The mechanism has been investigated experimentally with labelled substrates, trapping experiments and spectroscopic measurements. The findings indicate a radical pathway where potassium tert-butoxide is believed to serve a dual role as both base and radical initiator. The radical anion of the benzylic alcohol is proposed as the key intermediate, which undergoes coupling with the enolate of the amide to form the new C-C bond. Subsequent elimination to the corresponding cinnamamide and olefin reduction then affords the 3-arylpropanamides.
Original languageEnglish
JournalChemical Science
Volume11
Issue number30
Pages (from-to)7800-7806
ISSN2041-6520
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

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