Direct Amidation of Amino Acid Derivatives Catalyzed by Arylboronic Acids: Applications in Dipeptide Synthesis

The direct amidation of amino acid derivatives catalyzed by arylboronic acids has been examined. The reaction was generally slow relative to simple amine-carboxylic acid combinations though proceeded at 65–68 °C generally avoiding racemization. 3,4,5-Trifluorophenylboronic and o-nitrophenylboronic acids were found to be the best catalysts, though for slower dipeptide formations, high catalyst loadings were required and an interesting synergistic catalytic effect between two arylboronic acids was discovered.