Practical Synthesis of N -(Diphenylmethyl)- and N -(1-Adamantyl)amides Directly from Aldehydes via a One-Pot Schmidt and Ritter Reaction Sequence

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-0034-1380754

Nonoxidative and noncoupling reaction conditions have been developed for the synthesis of N-(diphenylmethyl)- and N-(1-adamantyl)amide derivatives directly from aldehydes by employing the concept of a Schmidt and Ritter reaction sequence in a one-pot operation. The reagent mixture consisting of sodium azide and HBF₄·OEt₂ in acetic acid converts the aldehydes into their respective nitrile analogues which in situ undergo the Ritter reaction with diphenylmethanol or 1-adamantanol to afford the corresponding N-(diphenylmethyl)- or N-(1-adamantyl)amide derivatives in very good yields. The method does not require column chromatographic purification for isolation of the products. With its simple reaction procedure and easy product purification technique, this method outshines earlier conventional two-step methods.