Abstract

Amide is the key functional group in organic and biological chemistry as it is present in many natural products of therapeutic importance, peptides and polymers. There is continuous exploration of methodologies that can facilitate the user to choose the method of its interest regarding the availability of substrates and high atom economy. In this review, the catalytic methods developed in the past decade mainly focusing on oxidative amidation of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and esters, aminocarbonylation of aryl halides, alkanes, alkenes and alkynes using transition metals such as Ru, Rh, Fe, Cu, Co, Pd, Ag, Au, Ir and Zr based catalysts have been discussed to highlight the emerging methodologies and expansion of research. The methods developed for the conversion of nitriles and oximes to corresponding amides have also been discussed.

Keywords: Amides, aminocarbonylation, catalytic methods, nitrile hydration, oxidative amidation, transamidation