Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Synthesis of alpha-Ketoamides from Aryl Methyl Ketones and N-Bromobutanimide Using N,N-Dimethylformamide as Dimethylamine Source

A novel and practical Cu(OAc)(2)-catalyzed oxidative synthesis of.-ketoamides from aryl methyl ketones and N-bromobutanimide (NBS) using N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as dimethylamine (HNMe2) source and solvent has been developed under mild conditions. DMF was used as a HNMe2 source and can be easily converted into HNM(e)2 by acid hydrolysis. The mechanistic studies indicate that Cu(OAc)(2) plays a dual role in providing both catalyst and oxidant.