Abstract A selective N-arylation of cyclic amides and amines in DMF and water, respectively, catalysed by Cu II/Al 2 O 3 has been achieved. This protocol has been employed for the synthesis of a library of arenes bearing a cyclic amide and an amine moiety at two ends, including a few scaffolds of therapeutic importance. The mechanism has been established based on detailed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, X-ray ...