Organocatalytic Direct N-Acylation of Amides with Aldehydes under Oxidative Conditions.

The direct oxidative N-acylation reaction of primary amides with aryl/α,β-unsaturated aldehydes was achieved in the presence of azolium salt C3 and an inorganic base using 3,3',5,5'-tetra-tert-butyldiphenoquinone as the oxidant, thus providing an efficient approach for the synthesis of three types of imide compounds including N-sulfonylcarboxamides, N-sulfinylcarboxamides, and dicarboxyimides in good yield.