Simple and convenient synthesis of tertiary benzanilides using dichlorotriphenylphosphorane

Various tertiary benzanilide derivatives were effectively synthesized from substituted benzoic acid and N-monoalkylated aniline using dichlorotriphenylphosphorane in chloroform. Yields were generally high, even when an electron-withdrawing group substituted the aromatic ring of aniline, or when an electron-donating group substituted the aromatic ring of benzoic acid. Allyl, Boc, MPM and the Z group were unaffected under these conditions.