Unexpected Oxidative Ring Opening of Electron-Rich 3-Aminobenzofurans into α-Ketoimines Derivatives.

An unexpected ring opening of 3-aminobenzofurans promoted by NaO tBu in hot toluene, leading to a variety of α-ketoimines, is described. In the presence of 3-iodobenzofurans, NaO tBu mediates the 3-aminobenzofurans ring opening via a possible radical pathway without the help of any external radical sources.