An efficient method for the synthesis of α-keto amides using 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) promoted domino alcohol oxidation and oxidative amidation reaction sequence between 2-oxoalcohols and amines under metal-free conditions is developed. In this protocol, IBX is used as an oxidizing agent to synthesize the α-keto amides, which makes this methodology highly efficient, practical, and environmentally benign. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.