Ruthenium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Amination Reactions of Aryl- and Vinylazides

The catalytic activity of a series of ruthenium complexes for C-H amination reactions of organic 9 which promotes C-H azides was investigated. The most active catalyst was found to be RuCl3, amination reactions of ortho-aryl phenylazides, 1-azido-2-arylvinylazides, and 1-azido-1,3-butadienes to give carbazoles, indoles, and pyrroles, respectively. Both computational and experimental results support that a two-step process involving formal electrocyclization is involved in the catalytic reaction.