text: The Hofmann rearrangement is a decarbonylation reaction whereby an amide is converted to an amine by way of an isocyanate intermediate. It is usually carried out under strongly basic conditions.
  The reaction can also be carried out under mildly acidic conditions by way of the same intermediate using a hypervalent iodine compound in aqueous solution.  An example published in Organic Syntheses is the conversion of cyclobutanecarboxamide, easily synthesized from cyclobutylcarboxylic acid, to cyclobutylamine. The primary amine is initially present as its trifluoroacetate salt, which can be converted to the hydrochloride salt to facilitate product purification.