Synthesis and evaluation of 1,1,7,7-tetramethyl-9-azajulolidine (TMAJ) as a highly active derivative of N,N-dimethylaminopyridine

1,1,7,7-Tetramethyl-9-azajulolidine (TMAJ), which theoretical studies have suggested as a highly active DMAP analog, was synthesized for the first time. The catalytic activity of TMAJ was confirmed by the acetylation reactions of various tert-alcohols. TMAJ showed much higher catalytic activity than DMAP and one of the highest activity levels among the conventional DMAP analogs. These experimental results were in good agreement with the previous theoretical studies