Iron-Catalyzed Intramolecular Allylic C–H Amination

A highly selective C–H amination reaction under iron catalysis has been developed. This novel system, which employs an inexpensive, nontoxic [Fe^IIIPc] catalyst (typically used as an industrial ink additive), displays a strong preference for allylic C–H amination over aziridination and all other C–H bond types (i.e., allylic > benzylic > ethereal > 3° > 2° ≫ 1°). Moreover, in polyolefinic substrates, the site selectivity can be controlled by the electronic and steric character of the allylic C–H bond. Although this reaction is shown to proceed via a stepwise mechanism, the stereoretentive nature of C–H amination for 3° aliphatic C–H bonds suggests a very rapid radical rebound step