Solvent-free copper/iron co-catalyzed N-arylation reactions of nitrogen-containing heterocycles with trimethoxysilanes in air

A solvent-free copper/iron-catalyzed N-arylation of nitrogen-containing heterocycles with trimethoxysilanes method for the formation of C–N bonds has been developed. In the presence of Cu, FeCl3, TBAF, and air, a variety of nitrogen-containing heterocycles including imidazoles and triazoles were coupled with aryltrimethoxysilanes and vinyltrimethoxysilane to afford the corresponding products in moderate to excellent yields. It is noteworthy that the reaction is conducted under solvent-free and relatively low Cu/FeCl3 loadings conditions.