What is Hoffman's degradation of amides?

Hoffman's degradation of amides is a chemical reaction that involves the conversion of an amide into a primary amine with one fewer carbon atom. This is achieved by treating the amide with bromine (Br2) in the presence of a strong base, typically sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The reaction proceeds through the formation of an isocyanate intermediate, which subsequently hydrolyzes to yield the primary amine and carbon dioxide. This process is useful in organic synthesis for generating amines from more complex amide structures.