Spectroscopic studies of the electrophilic activation of amides with triflic anhydride and pyridine

Abstract

The reaction of amides with trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) anhydride in the presence of pyridine was thoroughly investigated by NMR spectroscopic techniques. Different pyridinium intermediates were generated from secondary amides, tertiary amides with enolizable protons, and tertiary amides lacking enolizable protons. It was found that the actual triflating reagent is N-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)pyridinium triflate 11 which is formed by the initial reaction of triflic anhydride with pyridine. The alcoholysis of these intermediates yields O-alkyliminium ethers which can then be easily hydrolyzed under mild acidic conditions to the corresponding esters.Key Words: amides, triflic anhydride, pyridinium intermediates, NMR study.