[RhCp*Cl2]2-Catalyzed Directed N-Boc Amidation of Arenes on Water

Rhodium(III) catalysis on water is effective for directed C-H amidation of arenes. The catalytic process is promoted by OH groups present on the hydrophobic water surface and is inefficient in all (most) common organic solvents investigated so far. In the presence of easily prepared tert-butyl 2,4-dinitrophenoxycarbamate, a new and stable nitrene source, the on water reaction can efficiently provide the desired N-Boc-aminated products with good functional group tolerance.