Rhodium-Catalyzed C-H Bond Functionalization with Amides by Double C-H/C-N Bond Activation

The first C-H bond functionalization with amides as the coupling partners via selective activation of the amide N-C bond using rhodium(I) catalysts under highly chemoselective conditions is reported. Notably, this report constitutes the first catalytic activation of the amide N-C(O) bond by rhodium. We expect that this concept will have broad implications for using amides as coupling partners for C-H activation beyond the work described herein.