Chemical Communications 2014-05-30

Common metal of copper(0) as an efficient catalyst for preparation of nitriles and imines by controlling additives.

Jiaqing Wang, Shuanglong Lu, Xueqin Cao, Hongwei Gu

Index: Chem. Commun. (Camb.) 50(42) , 5637-40, (2014)

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Abstract

A novel, efficient, convenient and environmentally friendly approach for the synthesis of nitriles and imines from primary amines has been developed. Using commercially available red copper as the catalyst, ammonium bromide as the co-catalyst and molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant, nitriles and imines can be afforded in high yields through benzylic oxidation.