Zinc carbenoid-mediated chain extension of β-keto amides

The reaction of beta -keto amides with ethyl(iodomethyl)zinc provides access to a wide variety of gamma -keto amides, including primary, secondary, and tertiary amides. Although the reaction of alpha -substituted beta -keto amides are in many cases unsatisfactory, the method can be applied to a broad spectrum of substrates that possess imide and olefinic functionality. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.