Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Intermolecular Amidation with Azides via C(sp3)—H Functionalization.

The amidation reactions of 8-methylquinolines with azides catalyzed by a cationic rhodium(III) complex proceed efficiently to give quinolin-8-ylmethanamine derivatives in good yields via C(sp3)–H bond activation under external oxidant-free conditions. A catalytically competent five-membered rhodacycle has been isolated and characterized, revealing a key intermediate in the catalytic cycle.