Copper-catalyzed synthesis of primary arylamines from aryl halides and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide

A catalytic method was developed to synthesize primary arylamines from the corresponding aryl bromides and iodides under mild conditions (yields = 80–99%). Crystalline 2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide was used as ammonia surrogate and CuI/N,N′-dimethyl ethylenediamine was used as catalyst to achieve the C–N cross-coupling.