Mechanistic insights of Cu(ii)-mediated ortho-C-H amination of arenes by capturing fleeting intermediates and theoretical calculations.

The capture of reactive intermediates empowers chemists to conjecture the detail of a chemical transformation. Here we explore the mechanism of a C-H amination by intercepting short-lived intermediates in real time using online mass spectrometry. Computational study unravels the favorable pathway of the proposed dual mechanism of the reaction.