A simple and recyclable copper/DTPA catalyst system for amination of aryl halides with aqueous ammonia in water

•Aqueous ammonia was used for the synthesis of primary aryl amines in water.•Homogeneous CuO/DTPA catalyst system showed superior catalytic activity.•Amination of aryl halides in water could be carried out without any surfactant.•The reaction system could be reused for 4 times with slight loss of its activity.

Commercially available CuO/DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) was established to be a low-cost, recyclable, and environmentally benign homogeneous catalyst system for direct amination of aryl halides with ammonia. Primary aryl amines can be readily prepared from both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating aryl halides in good yields in water without the addition of surfactants.