Aerobic amide bond formation with N-hydroxysuccinimide.

Breathe easy: Molecular oxygen is one of the most abundant, atom-efficient, and economical oxidants. An aerobic oxidative amide formation from aldehydes and amines is reported. The method uses a catalytic amount of Co(OAc)(2) and N-hydroxysuccinimide as reaction promoters. It is applicable to chiral substrates without loss of their optical purity.