A sustainable enzymatic strategy for the preparation of amides by using Candida antarctica
lipase B as the biocatalyst and cyclopentyl methyl ether as a green and safe solvent
was devised. The method is simple and efficient and it produces amides with excellent
conversions and yields without the need for intensive purification steps. The scope
of the reaction was extended to the preparation of 28 diverse amides using four different
free carboxylic acids and seven primary and secondary amines, including cyclic amines.
This enzymatic methodology has the potential to become a green and industrially reliable
process for direct amide synthesis.
