The Rh(III)-catalyzed C-8 selective direct alkylation and alkynylation of quinoline N-oxides has been developed. The reactions proceeded highly efficiently at room temperature over a broad range of substrates with excellent regioselectivity and functional group tolerance. This development demonstrates the synthetic utility of the N-oxide directing group as a stepping stone for remote C-H functionalization of quinolines.

The Co­(III)-catalyzed direct C–H amidation of arenes has been developed using O-acylcarbamates as a convenient amino source. This reaction proceeded in high efficiency under external oxidant-free conditions with a broad range of arene substrates, including 6-arylpurines bearing sensitive functional groups, thus furnishing synthetically versatile arene N-carbamate products.

N-Substituted hydroxylamines such as aroyloxy- or acyloxycarbamates were successfully employed as synthetically versatile amino precursors in the iridium-catalyzed direct C-H amidation of arenes. The reaction proceeds smoothly at room temperature over a broad range of substrates with high functional group tolerance to afford N-substituted arylamine products.