Rhodium(III)-catalyzed chelation-assisted C-H imidation of arenes via umpolung of the imidating reagent

Rh(III)-catalyzed, chelation-assisted oxidative C-H imidation of arenes with N-H imide have been realized using PhI(OAc)(2) as an oxidant. This transformation exhibits a broad substrate scope and tolerates various functional groups. The reaction proceeded via in situ generation of an iodine(III) imido. DFT calculations suggest that this oxidative imidaton system proceeds via a Rh(III)-Rh(V)-Rh(III) pathway. (c) 2020, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.