Amino acid promoted CuI-catalyzed C-N bond formation between aryl halides and amines or N-containing heterocycles.

CuI-catalyzed coupling reaction of electron-deficient aryl iodides with aliphatic primary amines occurs at 40 degrees C under the promotion of N-methylglycine. Using l-proline as the promoter, coupling reaction of aryl iodides or aryl bromides with aliphatic primary amines, aliphatic cyclic secondary amines, or electron-rich primary arylamines proceeds at 60-90 degrees C; an intramolecular coupling reaction between aryl chloride and primary amine moieties gives indoline at 70 degrees C; coupling reaction of aryl iodides with indole, pyrrole, carbazole, imidazole, or pyrazole can be carried out at 75-90 degrees C; and coupling reaction of electron-deficient aryl bromides with imidazole or pyrazole occurs at 60-90 degrees C to provide the corresponding N-aryl products in good to excellent yields. In addition, N,N-dimethylglycine promotes the coupling reaction of electron-rich aryl bromides with imidazole or pyrazole to afford the corresponding N-aryl imidazoles or pyrazoles at 110 degrees C. The possible action of amino acids in these coupling reactions is discussed.