Silver-catalyzed amidation of benzoylformic acids with tertiary amines via selective carbon–nitrogen bond cleavage

A novel approach towards the synthesis of α-ketoamides using tertiary amines as nitrogen group sources via C–N bond cleavage has been developed. In the presence of Ag2CO3 and K2S2O8, α-keto acids reacted with tertiary amines to afford the corresponding α-ketoamides in good yields.