Amides are important intermediates in organic chemistry and the pharmaceutical industry, but their low reactivity requires catalysts and/or harsh reaction conditions to esterify them. Here, the authors report a versatile and mild dimethyl sulfate-mediated reaction to activate and esterify C—N bonds, achieving up to 95% amide bond cleavage.
- Hongjian Qin
- Zijian Han
- Haji A. Aisa