Amination-Oxidation Strategy for the Copper-Catalyzed Synthesis of Monoarylamines

A novel approach for the synthesis of mono arylamines from aryl halides is presented. This method employs an inexpensive, nontoxic metal source (copper) and incorporates a stable ammonia surrogate (alpha-amino acids), obviating the need for special experimental setup or handling of ammonia reagents. This process, which is proposed to proceed via an amination oxidation sequence, selectively promotes the transformation of a range of aryl and heteroaryl iodides as well as bromides to the corresponding monoarylamines.