| This thesis describes two studies designed to further the understanding and development of amide exchange reactions. Chapter 1 is as survey of the literature on transamidation and amide metathesis reactions and provides the background for subsequent chapters. Chapter 2 describes the development of catalytic tertiary transamidation and amide metathesis reactions with Zr(NMe 2)4, a highly efficient catalyst for the equilibrium-controlled amide exchange between tertiary amides and secondary amines. In Chapter 3, a method for the ammonolysis of anilides is described. Ethylene glycol was found to promote the ammonolysis of anilides to produce aniline and primary amides. The role ethylene glycol in ammonolysis is discussed. The scope of the reaction was evaluated, and this study revealed that a variety of anilides undergo ammonolysis in ethylene glycol at 145 °C and in the presence of 50 mol% phosphoric acid. |
