We report the direct amidation of arene C-H bonds using sulfonyl azides as the amino source to release N(2) as the single byproduct. The reaction is catalyzed by a cationic rhodium complex under external oxidant-free conditions in the atmospheric environment. A broad range of chelate group-containing arenes are selectively amidated with excellent functional group tolerance, thus opening a new avenue to practical intermolecular C-N bond formation.