Synthesis of Biologically Relevant Compounds by Ruthenium Porphyrin Catalyzed Amination of Benzylic C–H Bonds

Abstract

Herein we report the catalytic activity of ruthenium porphyrin complexes to promote the amination of benzylic C–H bonds by aryl azides, yielding α- and β-amino esters. The catalytic methodology is also effective to synthesize two derivatives of methyl l-3-phenyllactate in order to convert one of them into the corresponding β-lactam. The catalytic experimental conditions have been optimized on the basis of a preliminary mechanistic investigation which underlines the pivotal role of the substrate concentration to maximize the reaction productivity.