Electrochemical C−H/N−H Oxidative Cross Coupling of Imidazopyridines with Diarylamines to Synthesize Triarylamine Derivatives

An electrochemical dehydrogenative C−H/N−H cross coupling of imidazopyridines with diarylamines has been developed. A variety of triarylamine derivatives could be obtained in high regioselectivities and moderate‐to‐good yields. In this transformation, the reaction is conducted in a simple undivided cell without using a metal catalyst or a stoichiometric amount of external chemical oxidants. Mechanistic studies indicate that the C−N bond is likely to be formed through the cross coupling between an arene cation radical and a nitrogen radical.