Theoretical Investigations on the Agostic Interactions of the Molybdenum and Manganese Complexes

The essential participation of agostic interactions in C−H bond activation, cyclometallation and other catalytic processes has been widely observed. To quantitatively evaluate the Mo−H−C agostic interaction in the Mo β/γ- agostomers [CpMo(CO)₂(PiPr₃)]⁺ ( Mo , 1 and Mo , 2 ) and the Mn−H−C agostic interaction in the Mn α/ϵ-agostomers [(C₆H₉]Mo(CO)₃] ( Mn , 1 and Mn , 2 ), the comprehensive density functional theory (DFT) theoretical investigations were performed. Results indicated that the Mo β-agostomer 1 is only favorable by 0.5 kcal mol⁻¹ than Mo γ-agostomer 2 , and the Gibbs barrier for their interconversion was 9.1 kcal mol⁻¹. A slightly higher Gibbs barrier of 12.7 kcal mol⁻¹ for the isomerization between the Mn α/ϵ-agostomers was also obtained. The relatively strong agostic interactions in Mo β-agostomer 1 and Mn α-agostomer 1 were further verified by the AIM (Atoms-In-Molecules) analyses and the NAdOs (natural adaptive orbitals) analyses. The findings on the agostic interaction presented in this study are believed to benefit the understandings of the agostic interaction involved catalytic processes and to promote the development of new organometallic complexes.     

Small Molecule Activation with Intramolecular “Inverse” Frustrated Lewis Pairs

The intramolecular “inverse” frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) of general formula 1-BR₂-2-[(Me₂N)₂C=N]-C₆H₄ ( 3 – 6 ) [BR₂=BMes₂ ( 3 ), BC₁₂H₈, ( 4 ), BBN ( 5 ), BBNO ( 6 )] were synthesized and structurally characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. These novel types of pre-organized FLPs, featuring strongly basic guanidino units rigidly linked to weakly Lewis acidic boryl moieties via an ortho-phenylene linker, are capable of activating H−H, C−H, N−H, O−H, Si−H, B−H and C=O bonds. 4 and 5 deprotonated terminal alkynes and acetylene to form the zwitterionic borates 1-(RC≡C-BR₂)-2-[(Me₂N)₂C=NH]-C₆H₄ (R=Ph, H) and reacted with ammonia, BnNH₂ and pyrrolidine, to generate the FLP adducts 1-(R₂HN→BR₂)-2-[(Me₂N)₂C=NH]-C₆H₄, where the N-H functionality is activated by intramolecular H-bond interactions. In addition, 5 was found to rapidly add across the double bond of H₂CO, PhCHO and PhNCO to form cyclic zwitterionic guanidinium borates in excellent yields. Likewise, 5 is capable of cleaving H₂, HBPin and PhSiH₃ to form various amino boranes. Collectively, the results demonstrate that these new types of intramolecular FLPs featuring weakly Lewis acidic boryl and strongly basic guanidino moieties are as potent as conventional intramolecular FLPs with strongly Lewis acidic units in activating small molecules.     

Influence of the Flexibility of Nickel PCP-Pincer Complexes on C−H and P−C Bond Activation and Ethylene Reactivity: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

Using a pincer platform based on a bridgehead NHC donor with functional side arms, the combined effect of increased flexibility in six-membered pyrimidine-type heterocycles compared to the more often studied five-membered imidazole, and rigidity of phosphane side arms was examined. The unique features observed include: 1) the reaction of the azolium C_sp2−H bond with [Ni(cod)₂] affording a carbanionic ligand in [NiCl(PC_sp3^HP)] ( 8 ) rather than a carbene; 2) its transformation into the NHC, hydrido complex [NiH(PC^NHCP)]PF₆ ( 9 ) upon halide abstraction; 3) ethylene insertion into the Ni−H bond of the latter and ethyl migration to the N−C−N carbon atom of the heterocycle in [Ni(PC^EtP)]PF₆ ( 10 ); and 4) an unprecedented C−P bond activation transforming the P−C^NHC−P pincer ligand of 8 in a C−C^NHC−P pincer and a terminal phosphanido ligand in [Ni(PPh₂)(CC^NHCP)] ( 15 ). The data are supported by nine crystal structure determinations and theoretical calculations provided insights into the mechanisms of these transformations, which are relevant to stoichiometric and catalytic steps of general interest.     

Experimental and Theoretical Study of NiII- and PdII-Promoted Double Geminal C(sp3)−H Bond Activation Providing Facile Access to NHC Pincer Complexes: Isolated Intermediates and Mechanism

We report the first examples of metal-promoted double geminal activation of C(sp³)−H bonds of the N−CH₂−N moiety in an imidazole-type heterocycle, leading to nickel and palladium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes under mild conditions. Reaction of the new electron-rich diphosphine 1,3-bis((di-tert-butylphosphaneyl)methyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole ( 1 ) with [PdCl₂(cod)] occurred in a stepwise fashion, first by single C−H bond activation yielding the alkyl pincer complex [PdCl(PC ^HP)] ( 3 ) with two trans phosphane donors and a covalent Pd−C bond. Activation of the C−H bond of the resulting α-methine C H−M group occurred subsequently when 3 was treated with HCl to yield the NHC pincer complex [PdCl(PC^NHCP)]Cl ( 2 ). Treatment of 1 with [NiBr₂(dme)] also afforded a NHC pincer complex, [NiBr(PC^NHCP)]Br ( 6 ), but the reactions leading to the double geminal C−H bond activation of the N−CH₂−N group were too fast to allow identification or isolation of an intermediate analogous to 3 . The determination of six crystal structures, the isolation of reaction intermediates and DFT calculations provided the basis for suggesting the mechanism of the stepwise transformation of a N−CH₂−N moiety in the N−C^NHC−N unit of NHC pincer complexes and explain the key differences observed between the Pd and Ni chemistries.     

Oxidative Coordination versus C3−C(O)Me Bond Cleavage in Acetylacetonate Iridium Complexes

Iridabicycles [Ir{κ³-N,C,O-(pyC(H)=C(C(O)Me)₂}(Cl)(L−L)](L−L=cod (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene), 1 a ; bipy (bipy=2,2’-bipyridine), 1 b ) have been obtained by oxidative coordination of 3-(pyridine-2-yl-methylene)pentane-2,4-dione L1 , to the complexes [{Ir(μ-Cl)(cod)}₂] and [{Ir(μ-Cl)(coe)₂}₂] (coe=cis-cyclooctene), the latter in the presence of bipy. Remarkably, cleavage of the C³−C(O)Me bond of L1 has instead been achieved in the reaction with [Ir(Cl)(dmb)₂] (dmb=2,3-dimethylbutadiene), yielding a compound formulated as [Ir{κ²-N,C-(pyC(H)C(C(O)Me))}(CO)(μ-Cl)(Me)]₂, 2 . Treatment of dimer 2 with DMSO or PMe₃ produced the complexes[Ir{κ²-N,C-(pyC(H)C(C(O)Me)}(CO)Cl(Me)L] (L=DMSO, 3 a ; PMe₃, 3 b ). Plausible mechanisms for the reactions leading to complexes 1 and 2 are proposed by means of DFT calculations.     

Elucidating the Mechanism of Simultaneous Activation of CH4 and CO2 Mediated by Single Group 10 Metal Anions in Gas Phase

Quantum chemistry calculations predict that besides the reported single metal anion Pt⁻, Ni⁻ can also mediate the co-conversion of CO₂ and CH₄ to form [CH₃−M(CO₂)−H]^– complex, followed by transformation to C−C coupling product [H₃CCOO−M−H]⁻ ( A ), hydrogenation products [H₃C−M−OCOH]⁻ ( B ) and [H₃C−M−COOH]⁻. For Pd⁻, a fourth product channel leading to PdCO₂⁻…CH₄ becomes more competitive. For Ni⁻, the feed order must be CO₂ first, as the weaker donor-acceptor interaction between Ni⁻ and CH₄ increases the C−H activation barrier, which is reduced by [Ni−CO₂]⁻. For Ni⁻/Pt⁻, the highly exothermic products A and B are similarly stable with submerged barrier that favors B . The smaller barrier difference between A and B for Ni⁻ suggests the C−C coupling product is more competitive in the presence of Ni⁻ than Pt⁻. The charge redistribution from M⁻ is the driving force for product B channel. This study adds our understanding of single atomic anions to activate CH₄ and CO₂ simultaneously.     

Direct C−H Borylation of Arenes Catalyzed by Saturated Hydride-Boryl-Iridium-POP Complexes: Kinetic Analysis of the Elemental Steps

The saturated trihydride IrH₃{κ³-P,O,P-[xant(PiPr₂)₂]} ( 1 ; xant(PiPr₂)₂=9,9-dimethyl-4,5-bis(diisopropylphosphino)xanthene) activates the B−H bond of two molecules of pinacolborane (HBpin) to give H₂, the hydride-boryl derivatives IrH₂(Bpin){κ³-P,O,P-[xant(PiPr₂)₂]} ( 2 ) and IrH(Bpin)₂{κ³-P,O,P-[xant(PiPr₂)₂]} ( 3 ) in a sequential manner. Complex 3 activates a C−H bond of two molecules of benzene to form PhBpin and regenerates 2 and 1 , also in a sequential manner. Thus, complexes 1 , 2 , and 3 define two cycles for the catalytic direct C−H borylation of arenes with HBpin, which have dihydride 2 as a common intermediate. C−H bond activation of the arenes is the rate-determining step of both cycles, as the C−H oxidative addition to 3 is faster than to 2 . The results from a kinetic study of the reactions of 1 and 2 with HBpin support a cooperative function of the hydride ligands in the B−H bond activation. The addition of the boron atom of the borane to a hydride facilitates the coordination of the B−H bond through the formation of κ¹- and κ²-dihydrideborate intermediates.     

Photo-thermal Cooperative Carbonylation of Ethanol with CO2 on Cu2O-SrTiCuO3-x

Carbonylation of ethanol with CO₂ as carbonyl source into value-added esters is of considerable significance and interest, while remains of great challenge due to the harsh conditions for activation of inert CO₂ in that the harsh conditions result in undesired activation of α-C−H and even cleavage of C−C bond in ethanol to deteriorate the specific activation of O−H bond. Herein, we propose a photo-thermal cooperative strategy for carbonylation of ethanol with CO₂, in which CO₂ is activated to reactive CO via photo-catalysis with the assistance of *H from thermally-catalyzed dissociation of alcoholic O−H bond. To achieve this proposal, an interfacial site and oxygen vacancy both abundant SrTiCuO_3-x supported Cu₂O (Cu₂O-SrTiCuO_3-x) has been designed. A production of up to 320 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ for ethyl formate with a selectivity of 85.6 % to targeted alcoholic O−H activation has been afforded in photo-thermal assisted gas-solid process under 3.29 W cm⁻¹ of UV/Vis light irradiation (144 °C) and 0.2 MPa CO₂. In the photo-driven activation of CO₂ and following carbonylation, CO₂ activation energy decreases to 12.6 kJ mol⁻¹, and the cleavage of alcoholic α-C−H bond has been suppressed.     

Shedding Light on the Diverse Reactivity of NacNacAl with N-Heterocycles

The aluminum(I) compound NacNacAl (NacNac=[ArNC(Me)CHC(Me)NAr]⁻, Ar=2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃, 1 ) shows diverse and substrate-controlled reactivity in reactions with N-heterocycles. 4-Dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), a basic substrate in which the 4-position is blocked, induces rearrangement of NacNacAl by shifting a hydrogen atom from the methyl group of the NacNac backbone to the aluminum center. In contrast, C−H activation of the methyl group of 4-picoline takes place to produce a species with a reactive terminal methylene. Reaction of 1 with 3,5-lutidine results in the first example of an uncatalyzed, room-temperature cleavage of an sp² C−H bond (in the 4-position) by an Al^I species. Another reactivity mode was observed for quinoline, which undergoes 2,2′-coupling. Finally, the reaction of 1 with phthalazine produces the product of N−N bond cleavage.     

Coordination-Induced N−H Bond Splitting of Ammonia and Primary Amine of CuI−MOFs

We report a porous three-dimensional anionic tetrazolium based Cu^I−MOF 1 , which is capable of cleaving the N−H bond of ammonia and primary amine, as well as the O−H bond of H₂O along with spontaneous H₂ evolution. In the gas-solid phase reaction of 1 with ammonia and water vapor, Cu^I−MOF 1 was gradually oxidized to NH₂−Cu^II−MOF and OH−Cu^II−MOF, through single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) structural transformations, which was confirmed by XPS, PXRD and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Density functional theory (DFT) demonstrated that Cu^I−MOF could lower N−H bond dissociation free energy of ammonia through coordination-induced bond weakening and promote H₂ evolution by the reduction potential of 1 . To our knowledge, this is the first example of MOFs that activate ammonia and amine in gas-solid manner.     

Homolytic C−H Bond Activation by Phosphine−Quinone-Based Radical Ion Pairs

Herein, we present the formation of transient radical ion pairs (RIPs) by single-electron transfer (SET) in phosphine−quinone systems and explore their potential for the activation of C−H bonds. PMes₃ (Mes=2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂) reacts with DDQ (2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone) with formation of the P−O bonded zwitterionic adduct Mes₃P−DDQ ( 1 ), while the reaction with the sterically more crowded PTip₃ (Tip=2,4,6-iPr₃C₆H₂) afforded C−H bond activation product Tip₂P(H)(2-[CMe₂(DDQ)]-4,6-iPr₂-C₆H₂) ( 2 ). UV/Vis and EPR spectroscopic studies showed that the latter reaction proceeds via initial SET, forming RIP [PTip₃]⋅⁺[DDQ]⋅⁻, and subsequent homolytic C−H bond activation, which was supported by DFT calculations. The isolation of analogous products, Tip₂P(H)(2-[CMe₂{TCQ−B(C₆F₅)₃}]-4,6-iPr₂-C₆H₂) ( 4 , TCQ=tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone) and Tip₂P(H)(2-[CMe₂{oQ^tBu−B(C₆F₅)₃}]-4,6-iPr₂-C₆H₂) ( 8 , oQ^tBu=3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone), from reactions of PTip₃ with Lewis-acid activated quinones, TCQ−B(C₆F₅)₃ and oQ^tBu−B(C₆F₅)₃, respectively, further supports the proposed radical mechanism. As such, this study presents key mechanistic insights into the homolytic C−H bond activation by the synergistic action of radical ion pairs.     

Synergistic and Diminutive Effects between Regium and Aerogen Bonds

The aerogen bond is formed in complexes of HCN−XeF₂O and C₂H₄−XeF₂O. The lone pair on the N atom of HCN is a better electron donor in the aerogen bond than the π electron on the C=C bond of C₂H₄. The coinage substitution strengthens the aerogen bond in MCN−XeF₂O (M=Cu, Ag, and Au) and its enhancing effect becomes larger in the Au<Cu<Ag pattern. The aerogen bond is further enhanced by the regium bond in C₂H₂−MCN−XeF₂O and C₂H₄−MCN−XeF₂O, but is weakened by the regium bond in MCN−C₂H₄−XeF₂O and C₂(CN)₄−MCN−XeF₂O. Simultaneously, the regium bond is also strengthened or weakened in these triads. The synergistic and diminutive effects between regium and aerogen bonds have been explained by means of charge transfer and electrostatic potentials.     

Single-Atom or Dual-Atom in TiO2 Nanosheet: Which is the Better Choice for Electrocatalytic Urea Synthesis?

As rising star materials, single-atom and dual-atom catalysts have been widely reported in the electro-catalysis area. To answer the key question: single-atom and dual-atom catalysts, which is better for electrocatalytic urea synthesis? we design two types of catalysts via a vacancy-anchorage strategy: single-atom Pd₁−TiO₂ and dual-atom Pd₁Cu₁−TiO₂ nanosheets. An ultrahigh urea activity of 166.67 mol_urea mol_Pd⁻¹ h¹ with the corresponding 22.54 % Faradaic efficiency at −0.5 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) is achieved over Pd₁Cu₁−TiO₂, which is much higher than that of Pd₁−TiO₂. Various characterization including an in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and theoretical calculations demonstrate that dual-atom Pd₁Cu₁ site in Pd₁Cu₁−TiO₂ is more favorable for producing urea, which experiences a C−N coupling pathway with a lower energy barrier compared with Pd₁ in Pd₁−TiO₂.     

Aerobic Copper-Catalyzed Salicylaldehydic Cformyl−H Arylations with Arylboronic Acids

We report a challenging copper-catalyzed C_formyl−H arylation of salicylaldehydes with arylboronic acids that involves unique salicylaldehydic copper species that differ from reported salicylaldehydic rhodacycles and palladacycles. This protocol has high chemoselectivity for the C_formyl−H bond compared to the phenolic O−H bond involving copper catalysis under high reaction temperatures. This approach is compatible with a wide range of salicylaldehyde and arylboronic acid substrates, including estrone and carbazole derivatives, which leads to the corresponding arylation products. Mechanistic studies show that the 2-hydroxy group of the salicylaldehyde substrate triggers the formation of salicylaldehydic copper complexes through a Cu^I/Cu^II/Cu^III catalytic cycle.     

Modeling Heme Peroxidase: Heme Saddling Facilitates Reactions with Hyperperoxides To Form High-Valent FeIV-Oxo Species

Saddle-shaped hemes have been discovered in the structures of most peroxidases. How such a macrocycle deformation affects the reaction of Fe^III hemes with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to form high-valent Fe-oxo species remains uncertain. Through examination of the ESI-MS spectra, absorption changes and ¹H NMR chemical shifts, we investigated the reactions of two Fe^III porphyrins with different degrees of saddling deformation, namely Fe^III(OETPP)ClO₄ ( 1^OE ) and Fe^III(OMTPP)ClO₄ ( 1^OM ), with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBuOOH) in CH₂Cl₂ at −40 °C, which quickly resulted in O−O bond homolysis from a highly unstable Fe^III-alkylperoxo intermediate, Fe^III-O(H)OR ( 2 ) into Fe^IV-oxo porphyrins ( 3 ). Insight into the reaction mechanism was obtained from [tBuOOH]-dependent kinetics. At −40 °C, the reaction of 1^OE with tBuOOH exhibited an equilibrium constant (K_a=362.3 M⁻¹) and rate constant (k=1.87×10⁻² s^M−>1) for the homolytic cleavage of the 2 O−O bond that were 2.1 and 1.4 times higher, respectively, than those exhibited by 1^OM (K_a=171.8 M⁻¹ and k=1.36×10⁻² s⁻¹). DFT calculations indicated that an Fe^III porphyrin with greater saddling deformation can achieve a higher HOMO ([Fe(d ,d )-porphyrin(a_2u)]) to strengthen the orbital interaction with the LUMO (O−O bond σ*) to facilitate O−O cleavage.     

C−H Activation by Iron-Vanadium Bimetallic Oxide Cluster Anions FeV3O10− and FeV5O15−: A Comparison with Scandium-Vanadium Oxide Clusters

Late transition metal-bonded atomic oxygen radicals (LTM−O⋅⁻) have been frequently proposed as important active sites to selectively activate and transform inert alkane molecules. However, it is extremely challenging to characterize the LTM−O⋅⁻-mediated elementary reactions for clarifying the underlying mechanisms limited by the low activity of LTM−O⋅⁻ radicals that is inaccessible by the traditional experimental methods. Herein, benefiting from our newly-designed ship-lock type reactor, the reactivity of iron-vanadium bimetallic oxide cluster anions FeV₃O₁₀⁻ and FeV₅O₁₅⁻ featuring with Fe−O⋅⁻ radicals to abstract a hydrogen atom from C₂−C₄ alkanes has been experimentally characterized at 298 K, and the rate constants are determined in the orders of magnitude of 10⁻¹⁴ to 10⁻¹⁶ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, which are four orders of magnitude slower than the values of counterpart ScV₃O₁₀⁻ and ScV₅O₁₅⁻ clusters bearing Sc−O⋅⁻ radicals. Theoretical results reveal that the rearrangements of the electronic and geometric structures during the reaction process function to modulate the activity of Fe−O⋅⁻. This study not only quantitatively characterizes the elementary reactions of LTM−O⋅⁻ radicals with alkanes, but also provides new insights into structure-activity relationship of M−O⋅⁻ radicals.     

Bonding Energetics of Palladium Amido/Aryloxide Complexes in DMSO: Implications for Palladium-Mediated Aniline Activation

Thermodynamic knowledge of the metal–ligand (M−L) σ-bond strength is crucial to understanding metal-mediated transformations. Here, we developed a method for determining the Pd−X (X=OR and NHAr) bond heterolysis energies (ΔG_het(Pd−X)) in DMSO taking [(tmeda)PdArX] (tmeda=N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) as the model complexes. The ΔG_het(Pd−X) scales span a range of 2.6–9.0 kcal mol⁻¹ for ΔG_het(Pd−O) values and of 14.5–19.5 kcal mol⁻¹ for ΔG_het(Pd−N) values, respectively, implying a facile heterolytic detachment of the Pd ligands. Structure-reactivity analyses of a modeling Pd-mediated X−H bond activation reveal that the M−X bond metathesis is dominated by differences of the X−H and Pd−X bond strengths, the former being more influential. The ΔG_het(Pd−X) and pK_a(X−H) parameters enable regulation of reaction thermodynamics and chemoselectivity and diagnosing the probability of aniline activation with Pd−X complexes.     

Mechanistic Insight into Peptidyl-Cysteine Oxidation by the Copper-Dependent Formylglycine-Generating Enzyme

The copper-dependent formylglycine-generating enzyme (FGE) catalyzes the oxygen-dependent oxidation of specific peptidyl-cysteine residues to formylglycine. Our QM/MM calculations provide a very likely mechanism for this transformation. The reaction starts with dioxygen binding to the tris-thiolate Cu^I center to form a triplet Cu^II-superoxide complex. The rate-determining hydrogen atom abstraction involves a triplet-singlet crossing to form a Cu^II−OOH species that couples with the substrate radical, leading to a Cu^I-alkylperoxo intermediate. This is accompanied by proton transfer from the hydroperoxide to the S atom of the substrate via a nearby water molecule. The subsequent O−O bond cleavage is coupled with the C−S bond breaking that generates the formylglycine and a Cu^II-oxyl complex. Moreover, our results suggest that the aldehyde oxygen of the final product originates from O₂, which will be useful for future experimental work.     

Molecular Engineering of Chalcogen-Embedded Anthanthrenes via peri-Selective C−H Activation: Fine-Tuning of Crystal Packing for Organic Field-Effect Transistors

Disclosed herein is a RhCl₃-catalyzed peri-selective C−H/C−H oxidative homo-coupling of 1-substituted naphthalenes, which provides a highly efficient and streamlined approach to chalcogen-embedded anthanthrenes from readily available starting materials. Introducing O, S, and Se into the anthanthrene skeleton leads to gradually increased π–π stacking distances but significantly enhanced π–π overlaps with the growth of the hetero-atom radius. Moderate π–π distance, overlap area, and intermolecular S−S interactions endow S-embedded anthanthrene ( PTT ) with excellent 2D charge-transport properties. Moreover, the transformation of p-type to n-type S-embedded anthanthrenes is realized for the first time via the S-atom oxidation from PTT to PTT-O4 . In organic field-effect transistor devices, PTT derivatives exhibit hole transport with mobilities up to 1.1 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, while PTT-O4 shows electron transport with a mobility of 0.022 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

Direct N−H Activation to Generate Nitrogen Radical for Arylamine Synthesis via Quantum Dots Photocatalysis

Represented herein is the first example of N-radical generation direct from N−H bond activation under mild and redox-neutral conditions. The in situ generated N-radical intercepts a reduced heteroarylnitrile/aryl halide for C−N bond formation under visible-light irradiation of quantum dots (QDs). A series of aryl and alkylamines with heteroarylnitriles/aryl halides exhibit high efficiency, site-selectivity and good functional-group tolerance. Moreover, consecutive C−C and C−N bond formation using benzylamines as substrates is also achieved, producing N-aryl-1,2-diamines with H₂ evolution. The redox-neutral conditions, broad substrate scope, and efficiency of N-radical formation are advantageous for organic synthesis.