An Iodide-Mediated Anodic Amide Coupling.

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Till Opatz at the University of Mainz. The image depicts the electrochemical coupling of amines and carboxylic acids to form amides. Read the full text of the article at 10.

An Iodide-Mediated Anodic Amide Coupling.

The ubiquity of amide bonds, present in natural products and common pharmaceuticals renders this functional group one of the most prevalent in organic chemistry. Despite its importance and a wide variety of existing methods for its formation, the latter still can be a challenge for classical activating reagents such as chloridating agents or carbodiimides. As the spent reagents often cannot be recycled, the development of more sustainable methods is highly desirable.

A General Electro-Synthesis Approach to Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids.

Amaryllidaceae alkaloids appeal to organic chemists with their attractive structures and their impressive antitumor and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory properties. We demonstrate a highly versatile access to this family of natural products. A general protocol with high yields in a sustainable electro-organic key transformation on a metal-free anode to spirodienones facilitates functionalization to the alkaloids.