Copper-Catalyzed Synthesis of α-Keto Amides from Sulfoxonium Ylides

We here described a method to synthesize α-keto amides from simple sulfoxonium ylides and secondary amines under the catalysis of copper. This transformation involved a very simple and clean catalytic system, and the substrates could be extended to aryl, heteroaryl, and tert-butyl sulfoxonium ylides to give diversified α-keto amides with good yields. Additionally, the mechanistic studies indicated that the α-carbonyl aldehyde might be a key intermediate in the reaction system.