Manganese (III) catalyzed C—H aminations

Reactions that directly install nitrogen into C—H bonds of complex molecules are significant because of their potential to change the chemical and biological properties of a given compound. Selective intramolecular C—H amination reactions that achieve high levels of reactivity, while maintaining excellent site-selectivity and functional-group tolerance is a challenging problem. Herein is reported a manganese perchlorophthalocyanine catalyst [MnIII(ClPc)] for intermolecular benzylic C—H amination of bioactive molecules and natural products that proceeds with unprecedented levels of reactivity and site-selectivity. In the presence of Brønsted or Lewis acid, the [MnIII(ClPc)]-catalyzed C—H amination demonstrates unique tolerance for tertiary amine, pyridine and benzimidazole functionalities. Mechanistic studies indicate that C—H amination proceeds through an electrophilic metallonitrene intermediate via a stepwise pathway where C—H cleavage is the rate-determining step of the reaction. Collectively these mechanistic features contrast previous base-metal catalyzed C—H aminations. The catalyst can be a compound of Formula I: