Metal‐Catalyst‐Free One‐Pot Aqueous Synthesis of <i>trans</i>‐1,2‐Diols from Electron‐Deficient <i>α</i>,<i>β</i>‐Unsaturated Amides via Epoxidation Using Oxone as a Dual Role Reagent
First general one-pot direct trans-dihydroxylation of electron-deficient α,β-unsaturatedamides was developed. Trans-1,2-diols were produced, rather than cyclizing nitrogen-containing heterocycles by using inorganic oxone as a dual-role reagent in water. This reaction allowed operational simplicity, switchable selectivity, broad substrate scope, no metal pollution and organic waste generation.