Selective photochemical synthesis of primary arylamines and symmetric diarylamines via amination of aryl bromides using Ni(NH3)6Cl2 as a nitrogen source and catalyst

Abstract

The selective synthesis of primary arylamines and diarylamines via coupling reactions with ammonia as a nitrogen source is still challenging. Herein, a selective photochemical synthesis of primary arylamines and symmetric diarylamines has been achieved via the amination of aryl bromides using Ni(NH₃)₆Cl₂ as both a nitrogen source and a catalyst by controlling whether to add an Ir photocatalyst or not. This highly efficient, scalable reaction showed a broad substrate scope, excellent functional group tolerance and selectivity. More than 60 primary arylamines and diarylamines were synthesized, demonstrating the practicality and generality of this method in synthetic chemistry.