Zinc-catalyzed transamidation and esterification of N -benzoyl cytosine via C-N bond cleavage.

We have utilized N -benzoyl cytosine for efficient transamidation and esterification via catalytic C-N bond cleavage. The one-pot strategy involves the reaction of secondary amide with various aliphatic or aromatic amines and alcohols in the presence of zinc triflate and DTBP, affording diverse amides and esters in excellent yields.