Iron-catalyzed intermolecular hydroamination of styrenes.

An iron-catalyzed formal hydroamination of alkenes has been developed. It features O-benzoyl-N,N-dialkylhydroxylamines as the electrophilic nitrogen source and cyclopentylmagnesium bromide as the reducing agent for intermolecular hydroamination of styrene and derivatives with good yield and excellent Markovnikov regioselectivity. The reaction presumably proceeds through the iron-catalyzed hydrometalation of styrene followed by electrophilic amination with the electrophilic O-benzoylhydroxylamine.