Ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate in the selective conversion of hydrazides to esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)00764-9

Hydrazides were treated with ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) in the presence of the appropriate alcohol as a nucleophile to afford esters in good yields. Reactions took place exclusively at the hydrazino moiety even when other sensitive groups were present in either of the partners.