[RhCp*Cl2]2-Catalyzed Directed N-Boc Amidation of Arenes “on Water”

Rhodium(III) catalysis "on water" is effective for directed C-H amidation of arenes. The catalytic process is promoted by OH groups present on the hydrophobic water surface and is inefficient in all (most) common organic solvents investigated so far. In the presence of easily prepared tert-butyl 2,4-dinitrophenoxycarbamate, a new and stable nitrene source, the "on water" reaction can efficiently provide the desired N-Boc-aminated products with good functional group tolerance.