formamider

Formamider is a term that appears sporadically in chemical literature but does not denote a single widely recognized compound or class. In some contexts it is used informally to refer to reagents or catalysts that promote the formation of formamide or N-formyl derivatives from amines or other substrates, i.e., formylating agents that enable amide formation with formyl groups. In this sense a formamider would be any substance capable of delivering a formyl moiety (CHO) to a nucleophile, typically via formyl donors such as formyl chloride, formic acid with coupling reagents, or other formylating reagents.

More broadly, formamider may be a misnomer for formamide itself, the simplest formamide being HCONH2. Formamide is a polar aprotic solvent and reactant used in organic synthesis, while N-formyl derivatives are common as protecting groups for amines or as intermediates in peptide and pharmaceutical synthesis.

Because "formamider" is not standardized, its precise meaning depends on the source. In modern chemical literature the preferred terms are formylating agent, formyl donor, formamide, or N-formyl derivative depending on the context. There are no widely accepted chemical databases that list "formamider" as a distinct substance.

Formamide and related formylation chemistry have applications in synthetic organic chemistry, polymer science, and bioconjugation, with safety considerations for formyl reagents and for formamide itself, which is toxic and requires appropriate handling and precautions.