Molecular Iodine-Catalyzed N-Benzylic Sulfonamides C-N Bond Cleavage for the Decarboxylative Substitution of β-Keto Acids

A molecular iodine-catalyzed system for the decarboxylative substitution reactions of β-keto acids with N-benzylic sulfonamides via sp³ C-N bond cleavage has been disclosed. This procedure provides a series of α-functionalized ketones in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, the practicability of this method could be manifested efficiently in a gram-scale synthesis.