Mild, rapid and selective alcoholysis of terpyridine-appended amide substrates by Cu2+-catalysis: protonation state and reactivity of the complex

Mild and rapid methanolysis of the terpyridine-appended amide substrate proceeded via its Cu2+ complex in the presence of Cu2+ in methanol or aqueous methanol at 30 °C. The reactivity of the complex was changed according to protonation states of the amide and α-amino group of the complex. The complex having “deprotonated-amide” and “non-protonated α-amino group” exhibited the highest reactivity.