Redox active ligand and metal cooperation for C(sp2)-H oxidation: extension of the galactose oxidase mechanism in water-mediated amide formation.

Redox interplay between a ligand and a metal can provide a profound driving force for the promotion of unprecedented reactions. This work presents an intriguing water-assisted oxidative transformation of imine to amide with no formal change in the metal oxidation state in the copper and nickel complexes of an aminophenol ligand versus a zinc analogue.