Direct Dehydrative N-Pyridinylation of Amides

Electrophilic activation of secondary amides with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride in the presence of 2-fluoropyridine followed by introduction of a pyridine N-oxide derivative and warming affords the corresponding N-pyridinyl tertiary amide derivatives. A mechanism supported by in situ monitoring and deuterium labeling experiments is discussed.