Direct Oxidative Allylic and Vinylic Amination of Alkenes through Selenium Catalysis

Bringing “N” into the game: The direct chemoselective nitrogenation of unactivated alkenes can be achieved through oxidative selenium catalysis (see scheme). This method provides a broad variety of allylic imides in yields of up to 89 % using N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) as the terminal oxidant and nitrogen source. Furthermore, an unprecedented selenium-catalyzed vinylic C(sp2)–H nitrogenation was discovered.