Aminocarbonylation of aryl halides using surfactant in water - a greener approach

An environmentally benign, very efficient, highly selective and practically scalable aminocarbonylation of various aryl halides with different alkyl/aryl amines is developed using a surfactant in water. The reactions proceed by palladium catalysis using solid W(CO)6 as the CO source with non-inert conditions, in water using TPGS-750 M as a surfactant. The methodology developed is elaborated into lactam synthesis and applicable to biologically important substances as well.