Access to α-Hydroxy Amides via a Practical Metal-Free "One-Pot" Tandem Reaction Involving Aerobic C(sp 3 )-H Hydroxylation and C(sp 2 )-C(sp 3 ) Cleavage.

A flexible metal-free cascade reaction involving aerobic C(sp 3 )-H hydroxylation and decarbonylation with high regioselectivity and functional group tolerance has been established. Moreover, this indirect hydroxylation approach of N -aryl amides could enable the construction of a wide range of valuable secondary alcohols at α-position of N -aryl amides. It provides a supplementary strategy for direct α-hydroxylation of simple amides.