Benzotriazole: an excellent ligand for Cu-catalyzed N-arylation of imidazoles with aryl and heteroaryl halides

Benzotriazole (BtH) is an efficient ligand for the Cu-catalyzed N-arylation of imidazoles with aryl and heteroaryl halides. A combination of CuI/BtH was found to be an efficient and inexpensive catalyst system to carry out the N-arylation of imidazoles affording the corresponding products in good to excellent yields.

Benzotriazole is an efficient and inexpensive ligand for the N-arylation of imidazoles with aryl and heteroaryl halides using mild reaction conditions.