3.2. General Procedure for the Synthesis of N-Aryl Cinnamamides 8a–f

In a 10 mL crimper vial equipped with a magnetic stir was added triethylamine (2 mmol) to a mixture of cinnamic acid 10 (2 mmol) and TBTU (2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethylaminium tetrafluoroborate) (2 mmol) dissolved in DMF (3.6 mL) in an ice bath. After 1 h, the respective aniline 11a–f (2 mmol) was added dissolved in 3.6 mL of DMF, and the reaction was subjected to microwave heating for 10 min at 100 °C. After cooling to room temperature, the crude mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (3 × 10 mL) and the organic layer was washed with brine (1 × 10 mL) and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the crude product was purified by silica-gel column chromatography (20–50% AcOEt in petroleum ether) to furnish the desired N-aryl cinnamamides 8a–f.