Copper-Catalyzed Oxidation of Amines with Molecular Oxygen

An improved system for selective aerobic oxidation of amines to imines or nitriles is presented. It involves commercially available and inexpensive copper(I) or (II) chloride as catalyst, toluene as solvent, and MS3A as dehydrating agent under an atmospheric pressure of oxygen. A variety of amines can be used as substrates for this oxidation system to give the corresponding nitriles from primary amines (up to 97% yield; TON, up to 60) and the imines from secondary amines (up to 90% yield; TON, up to 45).