Aliphatic C-H Bond Iodination by a N-Iodoamide and Isolation of an Elusive N-Amidyl Radical.

Contrary to C-H chlorination and bromination, the direct iodination of alkanes represents a great challenge. We reveal a new N-iodoamide that is capable of a direct and efficient C-H bond iodination of various cyclic and acyclic alkanes providing iodoalkanes in good yields. This is the first use of N-iodoamide for C-H bond iodination. The method also works well for benzylic C-H bonds, thereby constituting the missing version of the Wohl-Ziegler iodination reaction. Mechanistic details were elucidated by DFT computations, and the N-centered radical derived from the used N-iodoamide, which is the key intermediate in this process, was matrix-isolated in a solid argon matrix and characterized by UV-vis as well as IR spectroscopy.