I2‐Mediated Oxidative Amidation of Aryl Methyl Ketones: Synthesis of Primary α‐Ketoamides Using Ammonium Carbamodithioate as Amine Surrogate

Here we report the preparation of primary α-ketoamides via a highly efficient molecular iodine-mediated oxidative amidation of aryl methyl ketones with ammonium carbamodithioate. A self-sequenced iodination/nucleophilic substitution/Kornblum oxidation/amidation mechanism was proposed. In this mechanism, α-thiocyanatoacetophenone is the key intermediate.