A novel and efficient method for the synthesis of α-ketoamides, employing a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-promoted oxidative amidation reaction between 2-oxoaldehydes and amines under metal-free conditions is presented. Furthermore, mechanistic studies supported an iminium ion-based intermediate as a central feature of reaction wherein C1-oxygen atom of α-ketoamides is finally derived from DMSO.

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An unprecedented set of efficient, economical, atom-economic and exceedingly selective I2–DMSO-promoted methods is described for the generation of different structures.