Room-Temperature Copper-Catalyzed Carbon-Nitrogen Coupling of Aryl Iodides and Bromides Promoted by Organic Ionic Bases

Mechanistic investigation of the iridium-catalysed alkylation of amines with alcohols

The [Cp*IrCl(2)](2)-catalysed alkylation of amines with alcohols was investigated using a combination of experimental and theoretical methods. A Hammett study involving a series of para-substituted benzyl alcohols resulted in a line with a negative slope. This clearly documents that a positive charge is built up in the transition state, which in combination with the measurement of a significant kinetic isotope effect determines hydride abstraction as being the selectivity-determining step under these conditions. A complementary Hammett study using para-substituted anilines was also carried out. Again, a line with a negative slope was obtained suggesting that nucleophilic attack on the aldehyde is selectivity-determining. A computational investigation of the entire catalytic cycle with full-sized ligands and substrates was performed using density functional theory. The results suggest a catalytic cycle where the intermediate aldehyde stays coordinated to the iridium catalyst and reacts with the amine to give a hemiaminal which is also bound to the catalyst. Dehydration to the imine and reduction to the product amine also takes place without breaking the coordination to the catalyst. The fact that the entire catalytic cycle takes place with all the intermediates bound to the catalyst is important for the further development of this synthetic transformation.

A simple and efficient copper-catalyzed amination of aryl halides by aqueous ammonia in water

The copper(I) iodide/1,4-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)piperazine (CuI–L2) system catalyzed the cross-coupling reactions between aryl halides and aqueous ammonia in water to produce primary aromatic amines in good yields. The protocol was simple and efficient, avoiding the need for inert atmosphere, additional base, or other additives.

Dialkylbiaryl Phosphines in Pd-Catalyzed Amination: A User's Guide

Dialkylbiaryl phosphines are a valuable class of ligand for Pd-catalyzed amination reactions and have been applied in a range of contexts. This review attempts to aid the reader in the selection of the best choice of reaction conditions and ligand of this class for the most commonly encountered and practically important substrate combinations.

Preparation of aromatic amines by copper-catalyzed coupling of boronic acids with aqueous ammonia

A simple, highly efficient, and environmentally friendly protocol for the synthesis of primary aromatic amines by catalytic coupling of aromatic boronic acids with aqueous ammonia has been developed by using commercial and inexpensive CuSO4·5H2O as catalyst without addition of other solvents under mild reaction conditions.

Diamine Ligands in Copper-Catalyzed Reactions

The utility of copper-mediated cross-coupling reactions has been significantly increased by the development of mild reaction conditions and the ability to employ catalytic amounts of copper. The use of diamine-based ligands has been important in these advances and in this review we discuss these systems, including the choice of reaction conditions and applications in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, natural products and designed materials.