Mechanisms for the Formation of Diamides and Polyamides by Aminolysis of d ‐Glucaric Acid Esters

1H and 13C NMR were employed to chart the conversion of the five‐membered lactone esters methyl d‐glucarate 1,4‐lactone (1) and ethyl d‐glucarate 6,3‐lactone (5) to N,N′‐dipropyl‐d‐glucaramide with n‐propylamine in DMSO‐d6. These experiments were carried out to model the amide forming steps in polycondensation reactions between esterified d‐glucaric acid and diamines to give poly(d‐glucaramides). It was clear from the resulting NMR spectra that the lactones 1 and 5 were each converted in three consecutive steps to the product diamides; aminolysis of the lactone ester to the corresponding acyclic N‐propyl‐d‐glucaramide monoester, followed by lactonization to a five‐membered lactone amide, and concluding with aminolyis of the lactone amide to N,N′‐dipropyl‐d‐glucaramide (4). Comparison of the reaction pathways from 1 and 5 by 1H NMR analysis suggests that ring opening of the 1,4‐lactone ester (1) and 1,4‐lactone amide (7) is faster than ring opening of the corresponding 6,3‐lactone ester (5) and 6,3‐lactone amide (3). Aminolysis of dimethyl l‐tartrate, which cannot form a five‐membered lactone, with n‐propylamine in DMSO‐d6 was much slower than aminolysis of esterified glucaric acid, indicating that the lactone forming/lactone aminolysis steps are the dominant aminolysis rate enhancing steps from glucarate.