Iron-Catalyzed Oxidative Amination of Benzylic C(sp3)–H Bonds with Anilines

Iron-catalyzed oxidative amination of benzylic C(sp3)–H bonds with anilines bearing electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs) or electron-donating groups (EDGs) is realized based on simple variations of N-substituents on imidazolium cations in novel ionic Fe(III) complexes. The structural modification of the imidazolium cation resulted in regulation of the redox potential and the catalytic performance of the iron metal center. Using DTBP as oxidant, [HItBu][FeBr4] showed the highest catalytic activity for anilines bearing EWGs, while [HIPym][FeBr4] was more efficient for EDG-substituted anilines. This work provides alternative access to benzylamines with the advantages of both a wide substrate scope and iron catalysis.