Preparation of imides via the palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of organoborons with methyl N-[methoxy(methylthio)methylene]carbamate as a one-carbon elongation reaction.

The preparation of imides via the palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction as a one-carbon elongation reaction is described. The palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of aryl-, alkyl-, and alkenylborons with N-[methoxy(methylthio)methylene]carbamate in the presence of Cu(I) thiophene-2-carboxylate (CuTC) affords imino ethers that are converted to the corresponding imides by acidic hydrolysis in high yield. The imino ethers are also useful for preparing the corresponding ester without using carbon monoxide.