Copper-catalyzed amination of primary benzylic C-H bonds with primary and secondary sulfonamides.

A room-temperature, copper-catalyzed amination of primary benzylic C-H bonds with primary and secondary sulfonamides is described. The reaction is applicable to the coupling of a range of primary and secondary benzylic hydrocarbons with a diverse set of sulfonamides and is tolerant of substitution on both coupling partners. Factors which influence the selectivity of C-H functionalization between primary and secondary sites are examined.