Directed copper-catalyzed C-H functionalization of unactivated olefins with azodicarbonamide compounds.

The copper-catalyzed strategy employing the 8-aminoquinoline directing group has proven to be a highly advantageous approach for functionalizing C-H bonds. In this study, we present the successful application of this strategy to accomplish Heck-type coupling reactions and construct β-lactam skeletons, simultaneously introducing a unique cyano functional group. The resulting Heck-type coupling products demonstrate good stereo- and region-selectivity. Initial mechanistic investigations indicate that the reaction proceeds a radical coupling mechanism, exhibiting a wide substrate scope and delivering good yields.