Regioselective and Direct Azidation of Anilines via Cu(II)-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization in Water

We report herein the first example of Cu(II)-catalyzed site selective azidation of aromatic amines via C-H functionalization in aqueous media. In our strategy, a mild reagent was utilized. H₂O₂ served as the oxidant, and sodium azide was used as the azidation reagent. This method could also be applied to late-stage functionalization of drugs that possess an aromatic amine moiety. In addition, we found that bromination or iodination on the ortho-position of aromatic amines could occur efficiently using this catalytic system.