Sustainable N-Formylation of Anilines: Harnessing Aleuritic Acid as a Renewable Formyl Source

Abstract

N-Formylation of anilines using a renewable aleuritic acid as an eco-friendly and sustainable formylating source has been developed. para-Substituted anilines generally provided good yields, while moderate yields were observed with meta- and ortho-substituted derivatives. In situ generated formic acid through oxidative cleavage of aleuritic acid serve as a formyl source, which has been confirmed through control experiments.