Improved synthesis of 4-amino-7-nitrobenz-2,1,3-oxadiazoles using NBD fluoride (NBD-F)

The 7-nitrobenz-2,1,3-oxadiazole (NBD) unit is a highly useful fluorescent tag with wide application in biology. Installation of the NBD group typically proceeds via the SNAr reaction between an amine and an NBD halide. Herein, we demonstrate that NBD-F 1 results in significantly higher yields than NBD-Cl 2, and that triethylamine in dimethylformamide at 23 °C overnight is a broadly applicable set of conditions for this reaction. In particular, the highly useful fluorescent carbohydrate 2-NBD-glucosamine (2-NBDG, 3) can now be prepared in 75% yield with NBD-F as compared to 12% with NBD-Cl.