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.

Direct CH amidation of arylphosphoryl compounds has been developed by using an Ir(III) catalyst system under mild conditions. A wide range of substrates could be employed with high functional-group tolerance. This procedure was successfully applied for the first time to the asymmetric reaction giving rise to a P-chirogenic center with a high diastereomeric ratio of up to 19:1 (90 % de).

A complete switch in the Cp*Ir(III)-catalyzed paths between C-H olefination and hydroarylation was found to be crucially dependent on the type of directing groups. This dichotomy in product distribution was correlated to the efficiency in attaining syn-coplanarity of olefin-inserted 7-membered iridacycles. Theoretical studies support our hypothesis that the degree of flexibility of this key intermediate modulates the β-H elimination, which ultimately affords the observed chemoselectivity.