Graphene oxide: a convenient metal-free carbocatalyst for facilitating amidation of esters with amines

Abstract

Herein, we report a graphene oxide (GO) catalyzed condensation of non-activated esters and amines, that can enable diverse amides to be synthesized from abundant ethyl esters forming only volatile alcohol as a by-product. GO accelerates ester to amide conversion in the absence of any additives, unlike other catalysts. A wide range of ester and amine substrates are screened to yield the respective amides in good to excellent yields. The improved catalytic activity can be ascribed to the oxygenated functionalities present on the graphene oxide surface which forms H-bonding with the reactants accelerating the reaction. Improved yields and a wide range of functional group tolerance are some of the important features of the developed protocol.