Metal-Free Iodine-Catalyzed Oxidation of Ynamides and Diaryl Acetylenes into 1,2-Diketo Compounds.

Metal-free oxidation of ynamides is described, employing pyridine- N-oxides as oxidants under molecular iodine catalysis. In stark contrast to Brønsted acid catalysis, iodophilic activation of ynamides diverts the reaction manifold into a dioxygenation pathway. This oxidation is very rapid at room temperature with only 2.5 mol % I2. Furthermore, this protocol could be extended to nonactivated alkynes, such as diarylacetylenes, to deliver various benzil derivatives.