We report a series of novel beta-diketiminato copper(II) anilides [Cl2NN]Cu-NHAr that participate in C-H amination. Reaction of H2NAr (Ar = 2,4,6-Cl3C6H2 (Ar-Cl3), 3,5-(CF3)(2)C6H3 (Ar-F6), or 2-py) with the copper(II) t-butoxide complex [Cl2NN]-Cu-(OBu)-O-t yields the corresponding copper(II) anilides [Cl2NN]-Cu-NHAr. X-ray diffraction of these species reveal three different bonding modes for the anilido moiety: kappa(1)-N in the trigonal [Cl2NN]Cu-NHArCl3 to dinuclear bridging in {[Cl2NN]Cu}(2)(mu-NHArF6)(2) and kappa(2)-N,N in the square planar [Cl2NN]Cu(kappa(2)-NH-2-py). Magnetic data reveal a weak antiferromagnetic interaction through a pi-stacking arrangement of [Cl2NN]Cu-NHArCl3; solution EPR data are consistent with monomeric species. Reaction of [Cl2NN]Cu-NHAr with hydrocarbons R-H (R-H = ethylbenzene and cyclohexane) reveals inefficient stoichiometric C-H amination with these copper(II) anilides. More rapid C-H amination takes place, however, when (BuOOBu)-Bu-t-Bu-t is used, which allows for HAA of R-H to occur from the (BuO center dot)-Bu-t radical generated by reaction of [Cl2NN]Cu and (BuOOBu)-Bu-t-Bu-t. The principal role of these copper(II) anilides [Cl2NN]Cu-NHAr is to capture the radical R-center dot generated from HAA by (BuO center dot)-Bu-t to give functionalized aniline R-NHAr, resulting in a novel amino variant of the Kharasch-Sosnovsky reaction.
Reported here is a copper‐catalyzed 1,2‐methoxy methoxycarbonylation of alkenes by an unprecedented use of methyl formate as a source of both the methoxy and the methoxycarbonyl groups. This reaction transforms styrene and its derivatives into value‐added β‐methoxy alkanoates and cinnamates, as well as medicinally important five‐membered heterocycles, such as functionalized tetrahydrofurans, γ‐lactones