Palladium-catalyzed coupling of amides and cyclopropanols for the synthesis of γ-diketones.

A palladium catalytic method has been developed for the coupling of amides and cyclopropanols to γ-diketones, through simultaneous C-N and C-C activation. Heteroatom ligand exchange and heteroatom-to-carbon ligation mode switching enable the achievement of molecular cross-coupling in an amide N-atom structural context-dependent manner, avoiding any stoichiometric organometallic reagent or base.