Cu-Catalyzed Methylenation of Alcohols with N -Methyl Amide as a Sustainable Methylene Reagent.

Herein, we report a new approach to methylenation of alcohols using N -methyl amide as a sustainable methylene reagent; the N -methyl delivers the methylene group. This new reagent is easily prepared and stable to both air and moisture. Furthermore, the final byproduct of this methylene reagent can be recycled in excellent yields and then reused in methylenation reactions upon treating with CH 3 I.