With the well-known precedence that N-methoxy-N-methyl amides are excellent acyl cation and aldehyde equivalents, N-methoxy-N-methyl-2-phenylsulfonylacetamide (3), a new reagent, synthetically equivalent to (CH2CHO)-C-Theta and (CH2COR)-C-Theta was synthesised. The simplicity involved in the alkylation at the active methylene site in 3, followed by safe removal of the phenylsulfonyl group, makes 3 a versatile reagent for two-carbon homologation of alkyl halides. The method, when applied to sugar halides 6j and 6k led to the synthesis of 2,3-dideoxy sugars.

Di-O-isopropylidene sugar derivatives (1a-9a) on treatment with a solution of Zn(NO3)(2). 6H(2)O in acetonitrile, undergo regioselective hydrolysis to furnish the corresponding diols (1b-9b) in excellent yields.

The preparation and the synthetic utility of the N-methoxy-N-methyl amides, also called as Weinreb amides, for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones has been discussed. Also the various reagents based on Weinreb′s amide has been compiled.

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Various carboxylic acids are converted to their corresponding N-methoxy-N-methyl amides through the mixed anhydride formed by their reaction with pivaloyl chloride.