A clean, safe, and efficient method for the N-carboxyalkylation of lactams has been recently published by our partners from ULille.
The three-component coupling of the substrate, carbon dioxide and an alkyl halide, has been developed as a green alternative to phosgene and chloroformates, and takes place at ambient temperature and low pressure of CO2. This provides an improved protocol for the protection of cyclic amides and other functional groups and allowed the obtention of non-classical N-carboxyalkyl derivatives for which the corresponding chloroformates are not accessible or commercially available. The model reaction was successfully performed with car diesel engine emissions and opens the way for new perspectives of carbon capture and use solutions.