A Ru(II)-catalyzed
regioselective direct
ortho
-amidation of 2-aryl benzo[
d
]thiazoles employing
acyl azides as a nitrogen source has been accomplished. This approach
utilizes the efficiency of benzothiazole as a directing group and
the role of acyl azide as an effective amidating agent toward C–N
bond formation, thereby evading the general Curtius rearrangement.
The protocol highlights significant functional group tolerance, single-step,
and external oxidant-free conditions, with the release of only innocuous
molecular nitrogen as the byproduct. The reaction mechanism and the
intermediates associated with this selective Ru-catalyzed reaction
have been investigated using ESI-MS. The protocol also aided in the
construction of
ortho
-amidated β-carbolines,
unveiling another class of fluorescent molecules.