Development of Nonclassical Photoprecursors for Rh Nitrenes.

Characterization of reactive intermediates in C-H functionalization is challenging due to the fleeting lifetimes of these species. Synthetic photochemistry provides a strategy to generate post-turnover-limiting-step intermediates in catalysis under cryogenic conditions that enable characterization. We have a long-standing interest in the structure and reactivity of Rh nitrene intermediates, which are implicated as transient intermediates in Rh-catalyzed C-H amination.