Base-catalyzed N-N bond cleavage of hydrazones: synthesis of α-amino ketones

An efficient Cs2CO3-promoted synthesis of α-amino ketones using hydrazines, aldehydes, and α-haloketones as starting materials through a cascade condensation/nucleophilic substitution/N-N bond cleavage route is developed. The carbonyl group plays a key role in this novel N-N bond cleavage process.