Copper–Nitrene Complexes in Catalytic CH Amination

Abstract

Hydrocarbons activate! Isolable β-diketiminato dicopper–nitrene complexes such as 1 derived from the reaction of [{(Cl2NN)Cu}2(μ-benzene)] and 1-adamantylazide are potent towards nitrene insertion into unactivated sp3-hybridized CH bonds. 1 allows stoichiometric and catalytic intermolecular CH amination of hydrocarbons to give secondary amines (see scheme). Catalyst loadings as low as 0.05 mol % may be used.