Intermolecular oxidative C-N bond formation under metal-free conditions: control of chemoselectivity between aryl sp2 and benzylic sp3 C-H bond imidation.

A new synthetic approach toward intermolecular oxidative C-N bond formation of arenes has been developed under transition-metal-free conditions. Complete control of chemoselectivity between aryl sp(2) and benzylic sp(3) C-H bond imidation was achieved by the choice of nitrogen sources, representatively being phthalimide and dibenzenesulfonimide, respectively.