The synthesis of N-arylcyclopropylamines via palladium-catalyzed C–N bond formation

A variety of N-arylcyclopropylamines has been prepared in one step, by the Pd2(dba)3/BINAP/NaOtBu-catalyzed amination of an aryl bromide with cyclopropylamine. Compounds bearing the N-aryl substitutent (phenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 1-napthyl, 9-anthryl, 9-phenanthryl, and 3-pyridyl) were prepared in isolated yields ranging from 43 to 99%. Overall, this chemistry represents a vast improvement over the previous multi-step procedures for the synthesis of compounds of this type.