Silver(I)-diene complexes as versatile catalysts for the C-arylation of N-tosylaziridines: mechanistic insight from in situ diagnostics

Silver(I) complex [[Ag[(diene).sub.2]].sup.+][Y.sup.-] (diene = cyclooctadiene, norbornadiene, and 1,3-cyclohexadiene, [Y.sup.-] = P[F.sub.6.sup.-], B[F.sub.4.sup.-]) has catalyzed the arylation of N-tosylaziridines with arenes and heteroarenes in order to provide the corresponding [beta]-aryl amine derivatives with excellent regioselectivity. In situ NMR ([super 1]H, [super 31]P, [super 109]Ag) and ESI-MS probe are used for understanding the nature of substrate activation and initial bond breaking/making steps.