Unprecedented copper-mediated oxidative demethylation of propionamides via bidentate-chelation assistance†
Abstract
A copper-mediated directed demethylation of propionamides has been developed. This reaction proceeds predominantly at the α-methyl groups of aliphatic amides with high efficiency and provides a unique tool for the direct cleavage of unactivated C(sp3)–C(sp3) bonds. The directing groups can be smoothly removed to afford the corresponding alkyl carboxylic acids.