Site-Selective Electrochemical Arene C–H Amination

Here we present the discovery and development of a highly selective aromatic C–H amination reaction. This electrochemical strategy involves a cathodic reduction process that generates highly electrophilic dicationic N-centered radicals that can efficiently engage in aromatic C–H functionalization and channel the regioselectivity of the aromatic substitution. The nitrogen-radical cation–pi interaction with arenes used throughout nature leads to a charge transfer mechanism, with subsequent aromatic C–N bond formation. This electrochemical process generates aryl DABCOnium salts in excellent yields and regioselectivities (single regioisomer in most cases). The scope of the reaction on arene is broad where various functionalities such as aryl halides (bromides, chlorides, fluorides), carbonyls (ketones, esters, imides), sulfonamides, and heteroarenes (pyridines, bipyridines, and terpyridines) are well tolerated. Moreover, we disclose the synthetic utility of the aryl DABCOnium salt adducts leading to the direct access of diverse aryl piperazines and the chemoselective cleavage of the exocyclic aryl C­(sp²)–N bond over electrophilic C­(sp³)–N⁺ bonds via photoredox catalysis to afford synthetically useful aryl radicals that can engage in aryl C–C and C–P bond formation.