General base-tuned unorthodox synthesis of amides and ketoesters with water

Abstract

We discovered a highly reactive λ³-hypervalent iodane species using an inorganic/organic base for the unorthodox synthesis of amides and ketoesters through grafting terminal alkynes. In contrast to the metal-catalyzed dehydrative approaches the in situ generated nonmetallic reagent efficiently created C–N/C–O and CO bonds with amines/alkynes and water at rt.