Amination of the ortho C-H bonds by the Cu(OAc)2-mediated reaction of 2-phenylpyridines with anilines

The reaction of 2-phenylpyridines with anilines in the presence of Cu(OAc)(2) as a promoter results in selective mono-amination of the ortho C-H bonds in 2-phenylpyridines to give amine derivatives in high yields per the conversion. This is the rare example of the functionalization of C-H bonds to C-N bonds.