3-(Diphenylphosphino)propanoic acid: An efficient ligand for the Cu-catalyzed N-arylation of imidazoles and 1H-pyrazole with aryl halides

3-(Diphenylphosphino)propanoic acid (L2) has proved to be an efficient ligand for the copper-catalyzed CN coupling reactions. N-arylation of imidazoles with aryl iodides catalyzed by CuCl/L2 was smoothly carried out in DMSO at 100 °C with a yield up to 98%. N-arylation of 1H-pyrazole with aryl iodides and bromides catalyzed by Cu(OAc)2/L2 in 1,4-dioxane also gave the corresponding products with yields of 40%–98%.

Graphical abstract3-(Diphenylphosphino)propanoic acid was determined to be an efficient ligand for not only the CuCl-catalyzed N-arylation of imidazoles, but also the Cu(OAc)2-catalyzed N-arylation of 1H-pyrazole.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide