Iron Photocatalysis Applied to Oxidative Amidation of Aldehydes with NaCl

A synthesis of amides from aldehydes promoted by the photoactive complex of Fe2SO4 with 2-picolinic acid, NaCl as a chlorine source, and Na2S2O8 as a benign oxidant is reported. The reaction is mediated by visible light and is carried out at room temperature in the absence of additives. Fe2SO4 is a readily available earth-abundant metal (EAMs) salt, which does not need to be prepared and is environmentally sustainable. Both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and mono- and disubstituted amines have been investigated for this transformation. This study opens intriguing perspectives for extending the application of photoactive complex iron salts toward halogenation processes as well as for C-H activation reactions and contributes to the field of earth-abundant metal based catalysis.A visible-light-mediated oxidative amidation of aldehydes promoted by a photoactive complex of Fe2SO4 with 2-picolinic acid, NaCl as a chlorine source, Na2SO8 as an oxidant, and acetone as the solvent is reported. Fe2SO4 is an earth-abundant metal salt that is commercially readily available and environmentally sustainable. Sodium chloride is a green and sustainable chlorine source. image