N-Acyl-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, a New Mild Acyl-Transfer Reagent in Pd Catalysis: Highly Efficient Synthesis of Functionalized Ketones

The palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of N-acyl-5,5-dimethylhydantoins with arylboronic acids has been developed via selective amides C–N bond cleavage. The new reagent is commercially available and air-/moisture-stable, and it offers a variety of ketones in good yields through Suzuki coupling under mild conditions (up to 95%).