A new palladium-catalyzed intermolecular sequence consisting of the C=H activation and amidation of methyl groups relies on N-fluorobis(phenylsulfonyl)imide (NFSI) as both the oxidant and the nitrogen source. The reaction provides the corresponding arylamines as bissulfonimides along with HF as the only by-product. Both experimental and computational results suggest the involvement of a monomeric palladium(IV) intermediate.
Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular C(sp3)-H amidation
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 2225-2228.