Regioselective ortho-acetoxylation/methoxylation of N-(2-benzoylphenyl)benzamides via substrate directed C–H activation

A highly regioselective ortho-acetoxylation of N-(2-benzoylphenyl)benzamides has been achieved using a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)2 (10 mol %) and a stoichiometric amount of PhI(OAc)2 in a mixture of acetic anhydride and acetic acid via C–H activation to produce the corresponding 2-acetoxybenzamides in good yields. ortho-Methoxylation has been accomplished using methanol under similar conditions.