An iodine(III) mediated oxidative rearrangement of enamines: efficient synthesis of α-amino ketones

An iodine(III)-mediated, group-selective oxidative rearrangement of beta, beta-diarylenamines to alpha-amino ketones has been accomplished with excellent yield. The developed reaction involves the initial oxidation of enamine to an alpha-acyloxyimine intermediate and concomitant semipinacol rearrangement.