A Convenient Conversion of Amides to Ketones

Amides are classic motifs for further functional group transformations because of their abundance and well-established syntheses. Herein we describe a general route to ketones from secondary amides through direct nitrogen deletion, preserving the remainder of the structural scaffold. The transformation proceeds through rapid oxidation of hydrazides, which are accessed via N-amination of the parent amides. Our protocol employs simple, commercial reagents in a wet organic solvent, open to air. This method can be performed in one pot and translates smoothly to gram scale, demonstrating a unique retrosynthetic logic toward ketone targets.