Rhodium(III)-catalyzed chelation-assisted C-H imidation of arenes via umpolung of the imidating reagent

Abstract Rh(III)-catalyzed, chelation-assisted oxidative C−H imidation of arenes with N−H imide have been realized using PhI(OAc)2 as an oxidant. This transformation exhibits a broad substrate scope and tolerates various functional groups. The reaction proceeded via in situ generation of an iodine(III) imido. DFT calculations suggest that this oxidative imidaton system proceeds via a Rh(III)-Rh(V)-Rh(III) pathway.