Mild Dirhodium(II)-Catalyzed Chemo- and Regioselective Azidation of Arenes.

A mild chemo- and regioselective aromatic azidation reaction catalyzed by a dirhodium(II) catalyst with Zhdankin's reagent as the azide source is described. A variety of functional groups were well tolerated under the reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies suggested that the Rh2(II,II)-bound azide intermediate, rather than the free azide radical, is the key active species in the reaction.