Condensation of N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)formamide with aldehydes: a general method for the synthesis of 1-formamido-1-trimethylsilyloxyalkanes

Reaction of bis(trimethylsilyl)formamide with simple aldehydes gives 1-formamido-1-trimethylsilyloxyalkanes (and the corresponding adducts with ketones), which undergo displacement of trimethylsilanol by a variety of nucleophiles to give α-substituted amides.