Copper-Catalyzed Electrophilic Ortho C(sp2)-H Amination of Aryl Amines: Dramatic Reactivity of Bicyclic System.

A practical copper-catalyzed, 2-picolinamide-directed ortho C-H amination of anilines with benzoyl-protected hydroxylamines has been disclosed that proceeds smoothly without any external stoichiometric oxidant or additives. Remarkably, besides anilines, bicyclic naphthyl or heterocyclic amines furnished amination products with five- and six-membered cyclic and acyclic amines at the ortho position selectively. This electrophilic C-H amination also proceeds smoothly in water under slightly modified reaction conditions.