Direct synthesis of primary arylamines via C-N cross-coupling of aryl bromides and triflates with amides

Aryl halides and triflates are coupled with primary amides to give the corresponding arylamines in the presence of a palladium catalyst, a suitable ligand, and a base. The catalyst system performs well for a large number of different substrates at 100-150 degrees C without solvent, and with low catalyst levels (0.12 mol% Pd). Nicotinamide might be useful as a nitrogen source in the Pd-catalyzed amination reaction. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.