A Ritter-Type Route to N-Benzylamides by Multicomponent Reaction Based on p-(Trifluoromethyl)- p-quinols.

A novel multicomponent reaction of p-(trifluoromethyl)- p-quinolsilyl ethers, ketones, and nitriles was developed for the efficient synthesis of p-trifluoromethylated N-benzylamides. The key step of the reaction involves the formation of an unstable condensation precursor in situ generated form the condensation of p-(trifluoromethyl)- p-quinolsilyl ethers with ketones. This work provides a significant expansion to the Ritter-type reaction, and the reaction can proceed under mild reaction conditions and tolerate various nitriles including both aryl and aliphatic nitriles.