Photochemical Regioselective C(sp)-H Amination of Amides Using -Haloimides.

A metal-free regioselective C(sp)-H amination of amides using -haloimides in the presence of lithium -butoxide and visible light is presented herein. This photoexcited approach is straightforward, and it aminates a wide variety of amides under mild conditions without the use of photocatalysts, external radical initiators, or oxidants. A halogen-bonded intermediate between the -butoxide base and the -haloimide is proposed to be responsible for the increased photoreactivity.