Silver-catalysed direct amination of unactivated C-H bonds of functionalized molecules

Carbon-nitrogen bond formation from inert C-H bonds is an ideal organic transformation and a highly desirable method for the synthesis of N-containing molecules due to its high efficiency and atom economy. In this report, we develop a general reaction to achieve an unprecedented selective intramolecular amination of unactivated C-H bond in the absence of complex directing groups. Functionalized heterocyclic products are built up from readily available linear amines through simple and reliable silver catalysis, representing a new silver-based C-H functionalization. This method displays preference for primary sp(3) C-H bonds and exhibits distinct chemo- and regioselectivity compared to existing methods of direct amination (Hofmann-Löffler-Freytag reaction and nitrene insertion). The study highlights the manipulation of unfunctionalized groups in organic molecules to furnish complex structural units in the natural and bioactive molecules.