N-Hydroxyphthalimide-catalyzed chemoselective intermolecular benzylic C-H amination of unprotected arylalkanols.

N-Hydroxyphthalimide-catalyzed chemoselective benzylic C(sp3)-H amination of unprotected arylalkanols using bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)azodicarboxylate has been developed. The use of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropan-2-ol as a solvent plays a critical role in chemoselectivity. The conversion of an aminated product to the corresponding free amino alcohol was also demonstrated.