Iron Photocatalysis Applied to Oxidative Amidation of Aldehydes with NaCl

Abstract A synthesis of amides from aldehydes promoted by the photoactive complex of Fe 2 SO 4 with 2‐picolinic acid, NaCl as a chlorine source, and Na 2 S 2 O 8 as a benign oxidant is reported. The reaction is mediated by visible light and is carried out at room temperature in the absence of additives. Fe 2 SO 4 is a readily available earth‐abundant metal (EAMs) salt, which does not need to be prepared and is environmentally sustainable. Both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and mono‐ and disubstituted amines have been investigated for this transformation. This study opens intriguing perspectives for extending the application of photoactive complex iron salts toward halogenation processes as well as for C−H activation reactions and contributes to the field of earth‐abundant metal based catalysis.