Copper-catalyzed allylic amination of olefins with nitrosoarenes

The transition metal catalyzed allylic amination of olefins are studied. A screening of catalysts known for the intermediacy of PhNO in the amination of alkene with phenylhydroxylamine reveals that the hydrated copper salt in conjugation with copper powder as reductant has the best catalytic properties using nitrosobenzene as nitrogen-fragment donor. The catalytic system has been studied for a variety of alkenes. Unsymmetrical alkenes react with high regioselectivity with N-functionalization at the less substituted vinylic carbon.