Carbon Dioxide-Mediated C(sp3)-H Arylation of Amine Substrates.

Elaborating amines via C-H functionalization has been an important area of research over the past decade but has generally relied on an added directing group or sterically hindered amine approach. Since free-amine-directed C(sp3)-H activation is still primarily limited to cyclization reactions and to improve the sustainability and reaction scope of amine-based C-H activation, we present a strategy using CO2 in the form of dry ice that facilitates intermolecular C-H arylation. This methodology has been used to enable an operationally simple procedure whereby 1° and 2° aliphatic amines can be arylated selectively at their γ-C-H positions. In addition to potentially serving as a directing group, CO2 has also been demonstrated to curtail the oxidation of sensitive amine substrates.