Contemporary Approaches for Amide Bond Formation

Amide bond construction has garnered significant interest in recent decades due to amides being one of the most prevalent functional groups among bioactive molecules. Out of the thirty-seven new drugs approved by the FDA in 2022, eleven are small molecules containing at least one amide bond. Additionally, there are nineteen large molecules approved as new drugs, some of which have peptide structures, and therefore, also bear amide bonds. In recent years, multiple teams have embraced the challenge of developing more efficient methods for amide bond formation. This dedication has led to numerous publications appearing monthly in prestigious journals, showcasing significant advancements in this field. The primary goal of this review is to present the most viable strategies for constructing the amide bond. It is crucial to differentiate between amide bond formation and amide synthesis; hence, the focus is on describing specific methods for forming new C(O)−N bonds. In particular, this review concentrates on the methods developed within the last six years. There is a particular emphasis on new approaches that consider the thought process when selecting the starting materials and functional groups. This approach ensures coverage of all the most common chemical transformations that yield new amide bonds.