Abstract
Weakly basic amines, including even neutral amines such as nitroaniline and aminocarboxylic
acids, react with acid chlorides very efficiently in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), without addition of a base, to give the corresponding amides
in high yields. The role of DMAC and related solvents as latent Brønsted bases was
studied in these amidation reactions. Less basic amines, such as aromatic amines,
reacted with benzoyl chloride faster than more basic aliphatic amines.
Key words
amide -
N,
N-dimethylacetamide - urea - Brønsted base - amine - acid chloride