The Beckmann rearrangement is a chemical reaction that involves the conversion of an oxime into an amide. This transformation typically occurs when an oxime is treated with an acid catalyst, leading to the migration of a substituent from the nitrogen atom to the carbon atom of the oxime. The result is the formation of a new carbon-nitrogen bond, producing an amide. This reaction is named after the German chemist August Beckmann, who first described it in the late 19th century. The Beckmann rearrangement is significant in organic synthesis, particularly for the preparation of various amides, which are important in pharmaceuticals and materials science.