Organocatalytic Amidation and Esterification of Aldehydes with Activating Reagents by a Cross‐Coupling Strategy

Formation on demand: An organocatalytic cross-coupling reaction of aldehydes with N-hydroxyimides, hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol, and sulfonimides has been developed. The resulting active intermediates can be directly converted into amides or esters in one pot. This simple method makes use of readily available starting materials, and the newly discovered activating reagents should find broad application in the synthesis of amides and esters.