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A new synthesis of enamides from ketones is disclosed that involves a phosphine-mediated reductive acylation of oximes. The resulting enamides are isolated in good yields (up to 89%) and excellent purity, permitting a subsequent hydrogenation to access enantiopure acetamides at catalyst loadings practical for large-scale applications.

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[reaction: see text] A remarkably general lithium heteroatom assisted TMSCN or TBSCN addition to aldehydes and ketones has been discovered. The process provides excellent selectivities and high rates. Conformationally constrained ketones such as camphor, fenchone, and nopinone give excellent diastereoselectivities with TMSCN. Reduction of 2 provided diastereopure amino alcohol 3 in good yield. alpha- and beta-Methyl cyclohexanones with TBSCN-LiOR afford high diastereoselectivities and yields.

An efficient, catalytic hypervalent iodine-mediated oxidative 1,2-shift of 1,1'-disubstituted olefins is described. This methodology provides concise access to homobenzylic ketones with electron-donating substituents. In the case of cyclic systems, this transformation results in ring-expanded β-benzocycloalkanones, which are useful for further elaboration.