Oxidative Deconstruction of Azetidinols to α-Amino Ketones

A silver-mediated synthesis of α-amino ketones via the oxidative deconstruction of azetidinols has been developed using a readily scalable protocol with isolated yields up to 80%. The azetidinols are easily synthesized in one step and can act as protecting groups for these pharmaceutically relevant synthons. Furthermore, mechanistic insights are presented and these data have revealed that the transformation is likely to proceed through the β-scission of an alkoxy radical, followed by oxidation and C-N cleavage of the resulting α-amido radical.