NFSI-participated intermolecular aminoazidation of alkene through iron catalysis

An iron-catalysed intermolecular vicinal aminoazidation of alkenes, using N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) and trimethylsilyl azide (TMSN3) as the imidating and azidating reagents respectively, is described, which could potentially provide a valuable route toward diverse vicinal diamine derivatives of great significance in medicinal chemistry and organic synthesis. Such iron-catalysed aminative bisfunctionalization of alkene with NFSI has not yet been reported before. Comparing to previously employed copper or palladium catalysts, the iron catalyst, FeCl2, was demonstrated to be a good alternative for its comparable efficiency and broad alkene scope. Preliminary mechanistic study suggested that this iron-catalysed reaction is realized through radical process.