Simple and efficient CuI/PEG-400 system for amination of aryl halides with aqueous ammonia

The cross-coupling reaction between aryl halides with aqueous ammonia was efficiently catalyzed in CuI/PEG-400 System with high yield. A range of electron-withdrawing or electron-donating aryl iodides and bromides were found to be applicable to the environmentally benign system. The process allows assembly of primary arylamines in great diversity which bear a wide range of functional groups including cyano, nitro, acetyl, ether, or amino moiety.