Insights into Fast Amide Couplings in Aqueous Nanomicelles

1-Ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)-carbodiimide (EDC•HCl) has both lipophilic and hydrophilic regions, causing self-aggregation (also called nanoparticle formation) in an aqueous medium containing PS-750-M amphiphile. Kinetic and proton nuclear magnetic resonance studies were used to probe the effect of different organic bases on the potential nanoparticle formation of EDC•HCl. It also reveals why the pyridine base works better under micellar conditions. The methodology was examined on the multigram scale synthesis of bioactive molecules, where excellent reaction yields were obtained without product epimerization while maintaining a shorter reaction time.