Rh(III)-Catalyzed ortho-C–H Amidation of Naphthalene and Perylene Monoimides

The direct formation of a C-N bond at the ortho-position of naphthalene monoimides (NMI) and perylene monoimides (PMI) is reported herein using dioxazolones as the amide source. This method affords direct access to ortho-amino NMI and PMI through an amidation and deprotection sequence. One-pot telescopic bay-bromination of ortho-amino PMIs was also achieved. The ortho-amidated NMIs and PMIs, accessed by the current methodology, show significant red shifts in their absorption and fluorescence spectra compared with the NMI and PMI alone. An improvement in the quantum yield and fluorescence lifetime was observed by the incorporation of pivalamide groups at the ortho-positions of NMI and PMI.