A Baker-Venkataraman retro-Claisen cascade delivers a novel alkyl migration process for the synthesis of amides

A simple extension of the carbamoyl Baker-Venkataraman rearrangement has been developed. If residual water in the reaction is not strictly excluded a Baker-Venkataraman retro-Claisen cascade takes place, giving amide products, in which an alkyl group apparently migrates between two functionalities of the substrate. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.