A Molecular Iron-Based System for Divergent Bond Activation: Controlling the Reactivity of Aldehydes

The direct synthesis of amides and nitriles from readily available aldehyde precursors provides access to functional groups of major synthetic utility. To date, most reliable catalytic methods have typically been optimized to supply one product exclusively. Herein, we describe an approach centered on an operationally simple iron-based system that, depending on the reaction conditions, selectively addresses either the C═O or C–H bond of aldehydes. This way, two divergent reaction pathways can be opened to furnish both products in high yields and selectivities under mild reaction conditions. The catalyst system takes advantage of iron's dual reactivity capable of acting as (1) a Lewis acid and (2) a nitrene transfer platform to govern the aldehyde building block. The present transformation offers a rare control over the selectivity on the basis of the iron system's ionic nature. This approach expands the repertoire of protocols for amide and nitrile synthesis and shows that fine adjustments of the catalyst system's molecular environment can supply control over bond activation processes, thus providing easy access to various products from primary building blocks.