Synthesis of biologically relevant compounds by ruthenium porphyrin catalyzed amination of benzylic C-H bonds

Herein we report the catalytic activity of ruthenium porphyrin complexes to promote the amination of benzylic C-H bonds by aryl azides, yielding α- and β-amino esters. The catalytic methodology is also effective to synthesize two derivatives of methyl l-3-phenyllactate in order to convert one of them into the corresponding β-lactam. The catalytic experimental conditions have been optimized on the basis of a preliminary mechanistic investigation which underlines the pivotal role of the substrate concentration to maximize the reaction productivity. © 2014 American Chemical Society.