Tandem oxidative amidation of benzyl alcohols with amine hydrochloride salts catalysed by iron nitrate

A tandem process for the oxidative amidation of benzyl alcohols with amine hydrochloride salts has been developed using inexpensive Fe(NO3)3 as the catalyst, air and aqueous t-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidants. A wide range of benzamides have been synthesized under mild conditions. This greener amide formation method provides an economical and practical assess to benzamides from readily available and inexpensive starting materials.