Iron- and copper-based bifunctional catalysts for the base- and solvent-free C-N coupling of amines and aryl/benzyl chlorides under aerobic conditions

Abstract

The iron chalcogenide carbonyl cluster Fe3Se2(CO)9 and Cu(OAc)2 were found to be outstanding bimetallic catalysts for the C-N coupling reaction of amines and aryl chlorides. The reaction proceeds under base- and solvent-free conditions at 100 °C to produce excellent transformations of N-arylated products in just 4 h. The method works equally well for all the possible variants of amines, including aliphatic, aromatic and benzylic amine. The present C-N coupling method is highly economical, strongly feasible, and shows excellent competence with electron-withdrawing and base-sensitive functionalities. Moreover, it is the first report in which a zero-valent iron complex has been explored for C-N coupling reaction.