Microwave-assisted direct synthesis and polymerization of chiral acrylamide

Chiral (R)-N-(1-phenylethyl)-acryamide (3) was synthesized directly from acrylic acid (1) and (R)-1-phenylethylamine (2) via microwave irradation without any further activation and in a solvent-free medium. The kinetic measurements performed show high selectivity and conversion to the amide after only few minutes of reaction time. It was possible to obtain optically active polymers containing both acrymaide and imide structural units in a one-pot reaction starting from acrylic acid (1), amine (2) and AIBN as a free radical initiator. The same reactions were evaluated by classical thermal heating in an oil bath and the results are compared. [GRAPHIC] The condensation reaction between acrylic acid and (R)-1-phenylenthyamine by MW irradiation in the presence and absence of AIBN as a free radical initiator.