Alkyl and aryl substituted corroles. 1. Synthesis and characterization of free base and cobalt containing derivatives. x-ray structure of (Me(4)Ph(5)Cor)Co(py)(2)

Rh(I) and Organo-Rh(III) Complexes of meso-Triarylbiphenylcorrole

Rhodium complexes of biphenylcorrole are reported, and the molecular structures of the complexes are unambiguously confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The adj-CCNN core of the dicarbacorrole efficiently stabilizes a rhodium metal ion in its two different oxidation states. It is pertinent to point out that the Rh(I) metal complex attains square-planar geometry while organo-Rh(III) forms an octahedral complex. Furthermore, density functional theory studies corroborate the experimental findings.

Cobalt Corroles as Electrocatalysts for Water Oxidation: Strong Effect of Substituents on Catalytic Activity

Two Co(III) complexes (1Py₂ and 2Py₂) of new corrole ligands H₃L1 (5,15-bis(p-methylcarboxyphenyl)-10-(o-methylcarboxyphenyl)corrole) and H₃L2 (5,15-bis(p-nitrophenyl)-10-(o-methylcarboxyphenyl)corrole) with two apical pyridine ligands have been synthesized and thoroughly characterized by cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis-NIR, and EPR spectroscopy, spectroelectrochemistry, single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, and DFT methods. Complexes 1Py₂ and 2Py₂ possess much lower oxidation potentials than cobalt(III)-tris-pentafluorophenylcorrole (Co(tpfc)) and similar corroles containing pentafluorophenyl (C₆F₅) substituents, thus allowing access to high oxidation states of the former metallocorroles using mild chemical oxidants. The spectroscopic (UV-vis-NIR and EPR) and electronic properties of several oxidation states of these complexes have been determined by a combination of the mentioned methods. Complexes 1Py₂ and 2Py₂ undergo three oxidations within 1.3 V vs FcH⁺/FcH in MeCN, and we show that both complexes catalyze water oxidation in an MeCN/H₂O mixture upon the third oxidation, with k_obs (TOF) values of 1.86 s^-1 at 1.29 V (1Py₂) and 1.67 s^-1 at 1.37 V (2Py₂). These values are five times higher than previously reported TOF values for C₆F₅-substituted cobalt(III) corroles, a finding we ascribe to the additional charge in the corrole macrocycle due to the increased oxidation state. This work opens up new possibilities in the study of metallocorrole water oxidation catalysts, particularly by allowing spectroscopic probing of high-oxidation states and showing strong substituent-effects on catalytic activity of the corrole complexes.

Ligand Noninnocence in Cobalt Dipyrrin-Bisphenols: Spectroscopic, Electrochemical, and Theoretical Insights Indicating an Emerging Analogy with Corroles

Three cobalt dipyrrin-bisphenol (DPPCo) complexes with different meso-aryl groups (pentafluorophenyl, phenyl, and mesityl) were synthesized and characterized based on their electrochemistry and spectroscopic properties in nonaqueous media. Each DPPCo undergoes multiple oxidations and reductions with the potentials, reversibility, and number of processes depending on the specific solution conditions, the specific macrocyclic substituents, and the type and number of axially coordinated ligands on the central cobalt ion. Theoretical calculations of the compounds with different coordination numbers are given in the current study in order to elucidate the cobalt-ion oxidation state and the innocence or noninnocence of the macrocyclic ligand as a function of the changes in the solvent properties and degree of axial coordination. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the compounds are obtained to experimentally assess the electron spin state. An X-ray structure of the six-coordinate complex is also presented. The investigated chemical properties of DPPCo compounds under different solution conditions are compared to those of cobalt corroles, where the macrocycle and metal ion also possess formal 3- and 3+ oxidation states in their air-stable forms.

Porous organic polymers based on cobalt corroles for carbon monoxide binding

Porous organic polymers (POPs) functionalized by cobalt corroles are designed for selective carbon monoxide capture applications.

Trifluoromethylation for affecting the structural, electronic and redox properties of cobalt corroles

Novel synthetic methodologies for accessing trifluoromethylated cobalt corroles allow beneficial tuning of their chemical and physical properties for catalysis.

Mono-DMSO ligated cobalt nitrophenylcorroles: electrochemical and spectral characterization

Four mono-DMSO ligated cobalt corroles with one or threemeso-nitrophenyl substituents on the macrocycle were synthesized and investigated as to their electrochemical and spectroscopic properties in CH₂Cl₂and DMSO.

Electronic Structure of Corrole Derivatives: Insights from Molecular Structures, Spectroscopy, Electrochemistry, and Quantum Chemical Calculations

Presented herein is a comprehensive account of the electronic structure of corrole derivatives. Our knowledge in this area derives from a broad range of methods, including UV-vis-NIR absorption and MCD spectroscopies, single-crystal X-ray structure determination, vibrational spectroscopy, NMR and EPR spectroscopies, electrochemistry, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations, the latter including both density functional theory and ab initio multiconfigurational methods. The review is organized according to the Periodic Table, describing free-base and main-group element corrole derivatives, then transition-metal corroles, and finally f-block element corroles. Like porphyrins, corrole derivatives with a redox-inactive coordinated atom follow the Gouterman four-orbital model. A key difference from porphyrins is the much wider prevalence of noninnocent electronic structures as well as full-fledged corrole^•2- radicals among corrole derivatives. The most common orbital pathways mediating ligand noninnocence in transition-metal corroles are the metal(d_z2)-corrole("a_2u") interaction (most commonly observed in Mn and Fe corroles) and the metal(d_x2-y2)-corrole(a_2u) interaction in coinage metal corroles. Less commonly encountered is the metal(d_π)-corrole("a_1u") interaction, a unique feature of formal d⁵ metallocorroles. Corrole derivatives exhibit a rich array of optical properties, including substituent-sensitive Soret maxima indicative of ligand noninnocence, strong fluorescence in the case of lighter main-group element complexes, and room-temperature near-IR phosphorescence in the case of several 5d metal complexes. The review concludes with an attempt at identifying gaps in our current knowledge and potential future directions of electronic-structural research on corrole derivatives.

Synthesis of Corroles and Their Heteroanalogs

Corroles have come a long way from being a curiosity to being a mainstream research topic. They are now regularly synthesized in numerous research laboratories worldwide with diverse specific aims in mind. In this review we present a comprehensive description of corroles' synthesis, developed both before and after 1999. To aid the investigator in developing synthetic strategies, some of the sections culminate in tables containing comparisons of various methodologies leading to meso-substituted corroles. The remaining challenges are delineated. In the second part of this review, we also describe the syntheses of isocorroles and heteroanalogs of corroles such as triazacorroles (corrolazines), 10-heterocorroles, 21-heterocorroles, 22-heterocorroles, N-confused corroles, as well as norcorroles. The review is complemented with a short outlook.

Semi-insulating behaviour of self-assembled tin(IV)corrole nanospheres

Three novel tin(iv)corrole complexes have been prepared and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques including single crystal X-ray structural analysis. Packing diagrams of the tin(iv)corroles revealed that corrolato-tin(iv)-chloride molecules are interconnected by intermolecular C-HCl hydrogen bonding interactions. HCl distances are 2.848 Å, 3.051 Å, and 2.915 Å, respectively, for the complexes. In addition, the C-HCl angles are 119.72°, 144.70°, and 147.08°, respectively, for the complexes. It was also observed that in one of the three synthesized complexes dimers were formed, while in the other two cases 1D infinite polymer chains were formed. Well-defined and nicely organized three-dimensional hollow nanospheres (SEM images on silicon wafers) with diameters of ca. 676 nm and 661 nm are obtained in the complexes, forming 1D polymer chains. By applying a thin layer of tin(iv)corrole nanospheres to an ITO surface (AFM height images of ITO films; ∼200 nm in height), a device was fabricated with the following composition: Ag/ITO-coated glass/tin(iv)corrole nanospheres/ITO-coated glass/Ag. The resistivity (ρ) of the nanostructured film was calculated to be ∼2.4 × 10(8) Ω cm, which falls in the range of semi-insulating semiconductors. CAFM current maps at 10 V bias show bright spots with a 10-20 pA intensity and indicate that the nanospheres (∼250 nm in diameter) are the electron-conducting pathway in the device. The semi-insulating behavior arises from the non-facile electron transfer in the HOMOs of the tin(iv)corrole nanospheres.

NIR-emissive iridium(iii) corrole complexes as efficient singlet oxygen sensitizers

The observed phosphorescence of the studied Ir(iii)corroles at ambient temperature appears at much longer wavelengths than the previously reported Ir(iii) porphyrin/corrole derivatives. Efficiencies of these compounds in the generation of singlet oxygen are also studied for the first time.

Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies of β-phosphorylated Zn porphyrins

The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of two β-phosphorylated Zn porphyrins, [2-diethoxyphosphoryl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinato]zinc (1) and [2-diisopropoxyphosphoryl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinato]zinc (2), are reported in CH 2 Cl 2 and PhCN containing tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) or tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAPF6) as supporting electrolyte. Under certain solution conditions, three one-electron reductions are observed, with the last process being attributed to the product of a chemical reaction following formation of the porphyrin dianion. Two or three oxidations are observed for the same compounds, again depending upon the solution conditions. In some cases, two well-defined and well-separated one electron oxidations are observed but in others the first one-electron abstraction to give the porphyrin radical cation is split into two redox processes, separated from each other by 110–140 mV. This splitting of the first oxidation into two processes is attributed to linking of the two porphyrins which results when a P = O unit of the phosphoryl substituent on one porphyrin binds to the Zn ( II ) center of a second porphyrin, resulting in dimer formation. The interaction between the two macrocycles is discussed in terms of the difference in potentials between the two split redox processes (ΔE1/2) and the overall data is compared with that for other porphyrin dimers and bis-macrocycles reported in the literature.

Synthesis, characterization and solvent/structural effects on spectral and redox properties of cobalt triphenylcorroles in nonaqueous media

Five cobalt(III) triphenylcorroles with different electron-withdrawing or electrondonating substituents and an axially bound triphenylphosphine ligand were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. The investigated compounds are represented as (4-XPh)3CorCo(PPh3), where Ph3Cor is the trianion of a triphenylcorrole and X is a OMe , Me , H , F or Cl substituent on the meso-phenyl rings. Each corrole was examined by UV-vis, 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, electrochemistry and thin-layer spectroelectrochemistry. Redox potentials and spectra of each oxidized and reduced species were examined in dichloromethane and N,N′-dimethylformamide containing 0.1 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate. Each Co(III) corrole undergoes up to five one-electron transfer reactions, some of which are reversible and others which are not. The CoIII/CoII process is irreversible in both solvents due to the loss of the triphenylphosphine axial ligand following electron transfer. The CoII/CoI process is reversible in DMF but irreversible in CH2Cl2 due to a homogenous chemical reaction between the electrogenerated Co(I) corrole and the chlorinated solvent. The potential for the first oxidation of the investigated corroles varies little with change of solvent, consistent with the lack of solvent binding to the neutral and singly oxidized forms of (4-XPh)3CorCo(PPh3). However, a single DMF molecule strongly binds to the doubly oxidized corrole in DMF or DMF/ CH2Cl2 mixtures. This results in an easier oxidation and a negative shift of ~200 mV in E1/2 upon going from CH2Cl2 to DMF as solvent. The effect of substitutents and solvent on redox potentials is discussed and an overall electroreduction/electrooxidation mechanism is proposed

Electrochemistry of platinum(II) porphyrins: effect of substituents and π-extension on redox potentials and site of electron transfer

Fourteen platinum(II) porphyrins with different π-conjugated macrocycles and different electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents were investigated as to their electrochemical and spectroscopic properties in nonaqueous media. Eight compounds have the formula (Ar(4)P)Pt(II), where Ar(4)P = the dianion of a tetraarylporphyrin, while six have π-extented macrocycles with four β,β'-fused benzo or naphtho groups and are represented as (TBP)Pt(II) and (TNP)Pt(II) where TBP and TNP are the dianions of tetrabenzoporphyrin and tetranaphthoporphyrin, respectively. Each Pt(II) porphyrin undergoes two reversible one-electron reductions and one to three reversible one-electron oxidations in nonaqueous media. These reactions were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, UV-visible thin-layer spectroelectrochemistry and in some cases by ESR spectroscopy. The two reductions invariably occur at the conjugated π-ring system to yield relatively stable Pt(II) π-anion radicals and dianions. The first oxidation leads to a stable π-cation radical for each investigated porphyrin; but in the case of tetraarylporphyrins containing electron-withdrawing substituents, the product of the second oxidation may undergo an internal electron transfer to give a Pt(IV) porphyrin with an unoxidized macrocycle. The effects of macrocycle structure on UV-visible spectra, oxidation/reduction potentials, and site of electron transfer are discussed.

2-Ethyl 4-methyl 5-ethyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2,4-dicarboxyl-ate

The title pyrrole derivative compound, C(12)H(17)NO(4), was synthesized from methyl 3-oxopenta-noate by a Knorr-type reaction and contains a pyrrole ring to which two diagonal alk-oxy-carbonyl groups and two diagonal alkyl substituents are attached. The methyl-carbonyl and ethyl-carbonyl substituents are approximately co-planar with the pyrrole ring, making dihedral angles of 5.64 (2) and 3.44 (1)°, respectively. In the crystal, adjacent mol-ecules are assembled by pairs of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into dimers in a head-to-head mode.

Multistate molecular information storage using S-acetylthio-derivatized dyads of triple-decker sandwich coordination compounds

An approach toward molecular information storage employs redox-active molecules attached to an electroactive surface. The chief advantages of such molecular capacitors include higher charge density and more versatile synthetic design than is afforded by typical semiconductor charge-storage materials. An architecture containing two triple-decker sandwich coordination complexes and an S-acetylthiomethyl-terminated tether has been designed for multibit storage. Each triple decker is composed of two phthalocyanines, one porphyrin, and two europium atoms. The oxidation potentials of each triple decker are tuned through the use of different substituents on the phthalocyanines (t-butyl, methyl, H ) and porphyrins (pentyl, p-tolyl). Interleaving of the four cationic oxidation states of each triple decker potentially affords eight distinct oxidation states. Two dyads were examined in solution and in self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on a Au surface. One dyad exhibited eight distinct states in solution and in the SAM, thus constituting a molecular octal counter. The potentials ranged from −0.1-+1.3 V in solution and +0.1-+1.6 V in the SAM. Taken together, this approach provides a viable means of achieving multibit information storage at relatively low potential.

New insights into the synthesis of porphyrin-corrole and biscorrole systems

As in the case of porphyrins, the relatively easier synthesis of meso-substituted corroles compared to that of β-pyrrole substituted ones greatly limits the use of these latter derivatives. Here we show, for the synthesis of β-substituted biscorrole and porphyrin-corrole dyads, that a simple replacement of sodium hydrogen carbonate by sodium acetate in the final cyclisation step of the a,c-biladiene to the corrole ring, increases the yield by at least a factor of 3. This reaction can be extended to the synthesis of β-substituted monocorroles. Moreover, when cobalt acetate is added instead of the reoxidation step, a 34 to 63% yield in porphyrin-spacer- Co ( III ) corrole is obtained, thus avoiding isolation of the free-base and further metalation of this latter derivative. This “cyclisation-oxidation-metalation” reaction is of particular interest in the preparation of heterobimetallic species in porphyrin-corrole series. Indeed, it leads to the formation of the monocobalt derivative with the cobalt atom inside the corrole moiety allowing for the further insertion of a large variety of metals into the porphyrin macrocycle. Crystals of the monocobalt complex of a biphenylene bridged porphyrin-corrole derivative were obtained in the presence of pyridine and the structure was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The structure shows that only one pyridine molecule is bound to the cobalt centre in an exo position, thus indicating a strong steric hindrance from the porphyrin counterpart.

Synthesis of unsymmetrical 3,4-diaryl-3-pyrrolin-2-ones utilizing pyrrole Weinreb amides

A regiocontrolled synthesis of unsymmetrical 3,4-diaryl-3-pyrrolin-2-ones has been achieved in three steps from 1,2-diaryl-1-nitroethenes with pyrrole-2-carboxamides (pyrrole Weinreb amides) serving as the key linchpin intermediates. Two different methods for the preparation of the requisite nitroalkenes were investigated: (1) modified Henry reaction between arylnitromethanes and arylimines; and (2) Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of 2-aryl-1-bromo-1-nitroethenes with arylboronic acids. Some difficulty was encountered in the preparation of arylnitromethanes, thus leading to the exploration of a cross-coupling strategy that proved more useful. A Barton-Zard pyrrole cyclocondensation reaction between 1,2-diaryl-1-nitroethenes and N-methoxy-N-methyl-2-isocyanoacetamide gave the corresponding pyrrole Weinreb amides, which were then converted into the desired 3-pyrrolin-2-ones in two steps. Overall, this method allowed for the construction of 3,4-diaryl-3-pyrrolin-2-ones with complete regiocontrol of the substituents with respect to the lactam carbonyl. The utility of this synthetic methodology was demonstrated by the preparation of eight unsymmetrical and symmetrical 3,4-diaryl-3-pyrrolin-2-ones including the N-H lactam analogue of the selective COX-II inhibitor, rofecoxib.

Solvent, anion, and structural effects on the redox potentials and UV-visible spectral properties of mononuclear manganese corroles

A series of manganese(III) corroles were investigated as to their electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry in nonaqueous solvents. Up to three oxidations and one reduction were obtained for each complex depending on the solvents. The main compound discussed in this paper is the meso-substituted manganese corrole, (Mes 2PhCor)Mn, and the main points are how changes in axially coordinated anion and solvent will affect the redox potentials and UV-vis spectra of each electrogenerated species in oxidation states of Mn(III), Mn(IV), or Mn(II). The anions OAc (-), Cl (-), CN (-), and SCN (-) were found to form five-coordinate complexes with the neutral Mn(III) corrole while two OH (-) or F (-) anions were shown to bind axially in a stepwise addition to give the five- and six-coordinate complexes in nonaqueous media. In each case, complexation with one or two anionic axial ligands led to an easier oxidation and a harder reduction as compared to the uncomplexed four-coordinate species.

Design and Synthesis of Binucleating Macrocyclic Clefts Derived from Schiff-Base Calixpyrroles

The syntheses, characterisation and complexation reactions of a series of binucleating Schiff-base calixpyrrole macrocycles are described. The acid-templated [2+2] condensations between meso-disubstituted diformyldipyrromethanes and o-phenylenediamines generate the Schiff-base pyrrolic macrocycles H(4)L(1) to H(4)L(6) upon basic workup. The single-crystal X-ray structures of both H(4)L(3).2 EtOH and H(4)L(6).H2O confirm that [2+2] cyclisation has occurred, with either EtOH or H2O hydrogen-bonded within the macrocyclic cleft. A series of complexation reactions generate the dipalladium [Pd2(L)] (L=L(1) to L(5)), dinickel [Ni2(L(1))] and dicopper [Cu2(L)] (L=L(1) to L(3)) complexes. All of these complexes have been structurally characterised in the solid state and are found to adopt wedged structures that are enforced by the rigidity of the aryl backbone to give a cleft reminiscent of the structures of Pacman porphyrins. The binuclear nickel complexes [Ni2(mu-OMe)2Cl2(HOMe)2(H(4)L(1))] and [Ni2(mu-OH)2Cl2(HOMe)(H(4)L(5))] have also been prepared, although in these cases the solid-state structures show that the macrocyclic ligand remains protonated at the pyrrolic nitrogen atoms, and the Ni(II) cations are therefore co-ordinated by the imine nitrogen atoms only to give an open conformation for the complex. The dicopper complex [Cu2(L(3))] was crystallised in the presence of pyridine to form the adduct [Cu2(py)(L(3))], in which, in the solid state, the pyridine ligand is bound within the binuclear molecular cleft. Reaction between H(4)L(1) and [Mn(thf){N(SiMe(3))2}2] results in clean formation of the dimanganese complex [Mn2(L(1))], which, upon crystallisation, formed the mixed-valent complex [Mn2(mu-OH)(L(1))] in which the hydroxo ligand bridges the metal centres within the molecular cleft.

Selective Chemisorption of Carbon Monoxide by Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Materials Incorporating Cobalt(III) Corroles as Sensing Components

Twenty-one hybrid materials incorporating cobalt(III) corrole complexes were synthesized by a sol-gel process or by grafting the metallocorrole onto a mesostructured silica of the SBA-15 type. All the materials show an almost infinite selectivity for carbon monoxide with respect to dinitrogen and dioxygen in the low-pressure domain where the chemisorption phenomenon is predominant. This peculiar property is of prime importance for an application as a CO sensor. The selectivity slightly decreases at high pressures where nonselective physisorption phenomena mainly occur. The percentage of active sites for CO chemisorption ranges from 22 to 64 %. This low percentage may be attributable to interactions between the cobalt(III) corroles with silanol or siloxane groups remaining at the surface of the materials which prevent further coordination of the CO molecule. Notably, the most efficient materials are those prepared in the presence of a protecting ligand (pyridine) during the gelation or the grafting process. The removal of this ligand after the gelation process releases a cavity around the cobalt ion that favors the coordination of a carbon monoxide molecule. The CO adsorption properties of the SBA-15 hybrid were not affected over a period of several months thus indicating a high stability of the material. Conversely, the xerogel capacities slowly decrease owing to the evolution of the material structure.

Synthesis, Structure, and Redox Properties of N-Confused Bis(porphyrinatonickel(II)) Linked by o-Xylene

In a reaction of 5,10,15,20-tetraaryl-2-aza-21-carbaporphyrinato nickel(II) 2 with alpha,alpha'-dibromo-o-xylene, three different complexes containing a xylene moiety were obtained in the presence of a proton scavenger. The products were characterized by mass spectrometry, UV-vis, NMR, and, in the case of the dimeric complex 3, X-ray crystallographic analysis (space group P, a =16.455(3) A, b = 16.776(3) A, c = 18.400(4) A, alpha = 77.43(3) degrees , beta = 75.31(3) degrees , gamma = 66.20(3) degrees , V = 4457.1(19) A3, Z = 2). The monomeric species, diamagnetic 4 and paramagnetic 5, contain one and two bromoxylene residues, respectively, while in 3, the xylene bridge links two macrocyclic subunits, involving their internal carbons (C21) coordinated to diamagnetic nickel(II). Cyclovoltammetric measurements for o-xylene-linked bis(carbaporphyrinoid) 3 indicate cooperative effects resulting from an interaction between the subunits despite the isolation of their aromatic pi-bond systems. An EPR-controlled titration of 3 with bromine allows consecutive detection of the mono- and bis-oxidized species (3Br, 3Br2). The spectral patterns and spin-Hamiltonian parameters indicate metal-centered oxidation in 3Br (gx = 2.358, gy = 2.150, gz = 2.062, A(Br)x = 15, A(Br)y = 35, A(Br)z = 129 G) and interaction of two electron spins of nickel(III) ions in 3Br2 (gx = 2.328, gy = 2.195, gz = 2.065, D = 0.0173 cm(-)1, E = -0.0018 cm(-1), A(Br)z = 63 G). A product of the chemical reduction of a protonated form of the dimer was also detected by means of EPR (g1 = 2.298, g2 = 2.218, g3 = 2.192), although no interaction between the nickel(I) centers can be observed for the reduced species.

Corrole-based applications

Despite of the many similarities between corroles and porphyrins, the chemistry of the former remained undeveloped for decades because of severe synthetic obstacles. The recent discoveries of facile methodologies for the synthesis of triarylcorroles and the corresponding metal complexes allowed for their utilization in various fields. This survey reveals many examples where corroles were used as the key components in catalysis, sensing of gaseous molecules and medicine-oriented research. The focus in all these cases was on the special features of corroles: stabilization of high valent transition metal ions, unique photophysical properties, large NH acidity, facile synthetic manipulation and distinct catalytic properties. The latter aspect includes several examples of reactions that are not catalyzed by any non-corrole metal complex, such as the iron-based aziridination by Chloramine-T, the clean disproportionation of peroxynitrite, and the very facile N-H activation of amines.