Electrochemical Amide Bond Formation via Chemoselective Oxidation of Hemiaminals with Gold Electrocatalyst

Amide bonds are among the most fundamental forms of chemical bonds in organic chemistry and are found in a wide range of artificial and natural products. Thus, the sustainable construction of amide bonds─low energy consumption, minimal waste, and no use of hazardous reagents─is an urgent issue for human society. In this paper, we report electrochemical amide bond formation in a continuous flow using gold (Au)-modified carbon felt. The system demonstrated efficient amide synthesis from aldehydes and amines via the chemoselective electrochemical oxidation of hemiaminals. Mechanistic studies revealed that amine adsorption onto the Au surface is the key to chemoselectivity.