Direct CH Amination of Arenes with Alkyl Azides under Rhodium Catalysis

New horizons in the utility of azides: The rhodium-catalyzed intermolecular direct CH amination of arenes with alkyl azides provides a convenient route to N-alkyl anilines (see scheme; DG=directing group). Alkyl azides with a wide range of functional groups reacted readily with various substrates, including benzamides, aromatic ketones, and flavones.