Efficient Iodine-Mediated Beckmann Rearrangement of Ketoximes to Amides under Mild Neutral Conditions

Aryl ketoximes readily underwent Beckmann rearrangement to give N-substituted amides in excellent yields on electrophilic activation by elemental iodine in anhydrous acetonitrile under reflux. The main advantages of this environmentally friendly protocol include a high selectivity as a result of the absence of any accompanying deprotection to form the parent ketones as byproducts, mild neutral conditions, procedural simplicity, and particularly ease of isolation of the products.