Synlett 2010(14): 2093-2096  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1258518
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Facile and Highly Efficient N-Formylation of Amines Using a Catalytic Amount of Iodine under Solvent-Free Conditions

Joong-Gon Kima, Doo Ok Jang*b
a Biotechnology Division, Hanwha Chemical R&D Center, Daejeon 305-345, South Korea
b Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Wonju 220-710, South Korea
Fax: +82(33)7602182; e-Mail: dojang@yonsei.ac.kr;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 28 May 2010
Publication Date:
22 July 2010 (online)

Abstract

We developed a simple, practical, and catalytic method for the N-formylation of a wide variety of amines in the presence of molecular iodine as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions. This reaction is applicable to the chemoselective N-formylation of amino groups and α-amino acid esters without epimerization.