Rhodium-Catalyzed Selective Mono- and Diamination of Arenes with Single Directing Site "on Water"

A Rh(III)-catalyzed selective C-H amination of 2-phenylpyridine derivatives is reported. With pyridine as a directing group, the reaction has high mono- or diamination selectivity, and a wide range of effective substrates, including electron-deficient and -rich aryl azides. Water helps to promote C-H activation, and the concept of a water promoted rollover mechanism is postulated for the diamination step. The reactions were conducted using a Schlenk flask and proceeded smoothly "on water" under atmospheric conditions with nitrogen gas as the only byproduct.