Rapid Synthesis of Primary Amides Using Ammonia Borane

We report the rapid synthesis of primary amides by directly using commercially available ammonia borane (NH₃·BH₃), sodium hexamethyldisilazide (NaHMDS), and esters. The success of this protocol relies on NH₃·BH₃ as the nitrogen source being considerably more convenient and NaHMDS being an excellent proton abstractor but not participating in the nucleophilic addition reaction. The reaction had a wide substrate scope containing bioactive molecules, and most of the substrates were efficiently amidated over 90% yields.