Table 1.

Development of Optimal Conditions.

entry	catalyst	additive	conv., %a	yield, %b
1	none	n.a.	0	0
2	FeBr2	n.a.	0	decc
3	CuBr	n.a.	0	0
4	CoTPP	n.a.	0	0
5	RuCl3•nOH2	n.a.	0	0
6	[Ir(cod)OMe]2	n.a.	0	0
7	[Rh(cod)OMe]2	n.a.	10	0c
8	Rh2(O2CC7H15)4	n.a.	35	35
9	Rh2(esp)2	n.a.	99	75
10	Rh2(esp)2	Boc2O	99	90
11	Rh2(esp)2	Ac2O	99	83
12	Rh2(esp)2	Bz2O	99	aniline
13	Rh2(esp)2	Tf2O	99	aniline

^aAs determined using ¹H NMR spectroscopy.

^bIsolated after silica gel chromatography.

^cAniline formed.