On the use of water as a solvent - simple and short one-step synthesis of maleimides.

A new route to the synthesis of novel chiral and achiral maleimides is desc ribed. A cheap and readily available exo-Diels-Alder adduct of furan and ma leic anhydride 1 reacted with amino acids 2a-d and 4e-i in water under clas sical heating or microwave irradiation with the release of furan to give ma leimides 3a-d and 5e-i in good to excellent yields.