Nickel-Catalyzed Oxidative Transamidation of Tertiary Aromatic Amines with N-Acylsaccharins

Abstract The use of tertiary amines as surrogates for secondary amines has prominent advantages in terms of stabilization and ease of handling. A Ni-catalyzed transamidation of N-acylsaccharins with tertiary aromatic amines is reported. By using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the terminal oxidant, this reaction permits selective cleavage of the C(sp3)–N bonds of unsymmetrical tertiary aromatic amines depending on the sizes of the alkyl substituents.