Tetrazole-1-acetic acid as a ligand for copper-catalyzed N-arylation of imidazoles with aryl iodides under mild conditions

Tetrazole-1-acetic acid was found to serve as a superior ligand for CuI-catalyzed N-arylation of imidazoles with aryl iodides under a low catalyst loading (5 mol% of CuI). A variety of aryl iodides could be aminated to provide the N-arylated products in good to excellent yields without the need of an inert atmosphere.

Graphical abstractAn experimentally simple and inexpensive catalyst system was developed for the N-arylation of imidazoles with aryl iodides by applying CuI as catalyst, tetrazole-1-acetic acid as ligand, NaOH as base and DMSO as solvent.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide