Iodine-Promoted Oxidative Cross-Coupling of Unprotected Anilines with Methyl Ketones: A Site-Selective Direct C–H Bond Functionalization to C4-Dicarbonylation of Anilines

An unprecedented direct dual C–H bond functionalization of unprotected anilines and methyl ketones has been demonstrated. It is the first example of iodine-promoted highly chemo- and site-selective oxidative C–H/C–H cross-coupling of anilines and methyl ketones to furnish the C4-dicarbonylation of anilines in moderate to good yields. Moreover, coproduct HI acted as a catalyst in the reaction. The salient feature of this approach is unprecedented C–H functionalization rather than N–H functionalization of unprotected anilines.