Synthesis of N-Arylamides by Copper-Catalyzed Amination of Aryl Halides with Nitriles

A copper-catalyzed amination of aryl halides with nitriles has been developed. The use of nitriles as nitrogen nucleophiles can make the synthesis of N-arylamides more simple than that using amides through in-situ hydrolysis. A variety of N-arylamides and benzoxazole derivatives can be synthesized according to this approach.