Direct Amidation of N-Boc- and N-Cbz-Protected Amines via Rhodium-Catalyzed Coupling of Arylboroxines and Carbamates.

N-Boc- and N-Cbz-protected amines are directly converted into amides by a novel rhodium-catalyzed coupling of arylboroxines and carbamates, replacing the traditional two-step deprotection-condensation sequence. Both protected anilines and aliphatic amines are efficiently transformed into a wide variety of secondary benzamides, including sterically hindered and electron-deficient amides, as well as in the presence of acid-labile and reducible functional groups.