Copper(I) carboxylate catalyzed C-N coupling of 2-amino pyrimidines with aryl halides to selectively generate secondary and tertiary amines

(2-Chlorobenzoyloxy)copper(I) exhibited high activity towards the challenging amination of 2-amino pyrimidines with aryl halides. Herein, secondary and tertiary amines were selectively produced by using potassium phosphate and sodium-t-butoxide. Potassium phosphate favored the formation of secondary amines, whereas tertiary amines were favored when sodium-t-butoxide was used.