Pd‐Catalyzed One‐Pot Dehydroxylative Coupling of Phenols and Amines under a Carbon Monoxide Atmosphere: A Chemical‐Specific Discrimination for Arylcarboxylic Amide Synthesis

Abstract A simple one‐pot process for the synthesis of amides through Pd‐catalyzed dehydroxylative coupling of phenols and amines with the insertion of carbon monoxide was developed. This protocol afforded exclusive chemical selectivity for accessing arylcarboxylic amides from phenols by using acyclic amines. The same reaction provided sulfonamides if cyclic amines were used. The reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions and tolerates a variety of functional groups. The versatility of this method represents an alternative to the known processes for the preparation of amides.