Simple Nickel Salts for the Amination of (Hetero)aryl Bromides and Iodides with Lithium Bis(trimethylsilyl)amide

Abstract

Recent developments in the chemistry of C–N bond formation and the synthesis of anilines have allowed for the use of first-row transition metals to catalyze these transformations. Much of the progress in this area has been driven by comprehensive screening for privileged/tailored ligands, which can be costly and not readily available in a research laboratory setting. In this communication we report a protocol in which simple nickel salts catalyze the C–N cross-coupling reaction between (hetero)aryl bromides and iodides with lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide without the need for any additive ligand. This method is amenable to low nickel catalyst loadings (1%) as well as gram-scale reactions. Because of the good functional group tolerance and compatibility with heterocyclic moieties, this method is useful for academic laboratory settings where access to tailored ligands and noble-metal catalysts could be challenging.