Amidation of saturated C-H bonds catalyzed by electron-deficient ruthenium and manganese porphyrins. A highly catalytic nitrogen atom transfer process.

Amidation of a variety of hydrocarbons with PhI=NTs catalyzed by ruthenium and manganese meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrins 1 and 2 afforded N-substituted amides in up to 92% yields with good to excellent substrate conversions. By employing catalyst 2, exceptionally high turnovers (up to 2600) were achieved, and the amidations can be effected by directly using PhI(OAc)(2)/NH(2)R as amidating reagents; in the case of R = COCF(3) a direct amination was realized in up to 90% yield.