Efficient Amination Of Activated And Non-Activated C(Sp(3))-H Bonds With A Simple Iron-Phenanthroline Catalyst

A readily available catalyst consisting of iron dichloride in combination with 1,10-phenanthroline catalyzes the ring-closing C-H amination of N-benzoyloxyurea to form imidazolidin-2-ones in high yields. The C-H amination reaction is very general and applicable to benzylic, allylic, propargylic, and completely non-activated aliphatic C(sp(3))-H bonds, and it also works for C(sp(2))-H bonds. The surprisingly simple method can be performed under open flask conditions.