Metal free synthesis of α-keto amides from 2-hydroxy acetophenones through domino alcohol oxidation–oxidative amidation reaction

An efficient method for the synthesis of α-keto amides using 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) promoted domino alcohol oxidation and oxidative amidation reaction sequence between 2-oxoalcohols and amines under metal-free conditions is developed. In this protocol, IBX is used as an oxidizing agent to synthesize the α-keto amides, which makes this methodology highly efficient, practical, and environmentally benign.