Well-defined NHC-Pd(II)-Im(NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene; Im=1-methylimidazole) complex catalyzed C-N coupling of primary amines with aryl chlorides

We report herein a well-defined NHC-Pd(II)-Im(NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene; Im=1-methylimidazole) complex catalyzed C-N coupling of primary amines with aryl chlorides. Under the optimal reaction conditions, a variety of primary amines can be coupled with aryl chlorides to give the amination products in good to high yields within 4 h. It is worthy of noting here that the NHC-Pd(II)-Im complex showed especially high catalytic activity toward challenging sterically hindered substrates including both of aryl amines and aryl chlorides. In addition, alkyl amines were also proved to be suitable reaction partners to give the corresponding amination products in good to high yields. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.