In Situ Generation of Arylacetyl Radicals and Their Unexplored Acylation with Amines

The synthesis of arylacetamides has been developed from arylacetohydrazides and amines using TBHP and catalytic amounts of I2, affording the products in good-to-excellent yields. The protocol features the use of a green oxidant, room-temperature conditions, a wide scope with excellent functional group tolerance, late-stage modification for drug molecules, and gram-scale synthesis of efaproxiral. The mechanistic studies supported by CV and computational data revealed that the underexplored arylacetyl radical, generated in situ via oxidative denitrogenation of arylacetohydrazide, is involved in the N-acylation reaction with amines.