Defined hypervalent iodine(III) reagents incorporating transferable nitrogen groups: Nucleophilic amination through electrophilic activation

Hypervalent iodine(III) reagents with two reactive I-N single bonds have been isolated for the first time. Their solid-state and solution structures provide evidence for enhanced electrophilicity at iodine and nucleophilic character of the imine. As a result, improved reactivity in amination reactions and unprecedented nitrogen-transfer reactions under metal-free conditions are realized.