Copper‐Catalyzed Site‐Selective Intramolecular Amidation of Unactivated C(sp3)H Bonds

Abstract

AbstractThe intramolecular dehydrogenative amidation of aliphatic amides, directed by a bidentate ligand, was developed using a copper‐catalyzed sp3 CH bond functionalization process. The reaction favors predominantly the CH bonds of β‐methyl groups over the unactivated methylene CH bonds. Moreover, a preference for activating sp3 CH bonds of β‐methyl groups, via a five‐membered ring intermediate, over the aromatic sp2 CH bonds was also observed in the cyclometalation step. Additionally, sp3 CH bonds of unactivated secondary sp3 CH bonds could be functionalized by favoring the ring carbon atoms over the linear carbon atoms.