Complexes [Cu(NPh(2))(2)](-), [Cu(NPh(2))I](-) and K[Cu(phen)(NPh(2)) (p-tolyl)](+) were observed by in situ electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis of the copper(I)-catalyzed C-N coupling reaction under the catalytic reaction condition indicating that they are intermediates in the reaction. A catalytic cycle composed of a free radical path and a 2e oxidative addition path is proposed based on these observations.
Complex [Na(phen)(3)][Cu(NPh(2) )(2)](2), containing a linear bis(N-phenylanilide)copper(I) anion and a distorted octahedral tris(1,10-phenanthroline)sodium counter cation, has been isolated from the catalytic C-N cross-coupling reaction with the CuI/phen/tBuONa (phen=1,10-phenanthroline) catalytic system. Complex 2 can react with 4-iodotoluene to produce 4-methyl-N,N-diphenylaniline (3 a) with 70.6 % yield. In addition, 2 can work as an effective catalyst for C-N coupling under the same reaction conditions, thus indicating that 2 is the intermediate of the catalytic system. Both [Cu(NPh(2))(2)](-) and [Cu(NPh(2))I](-) have been observed by in situ electron ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) under catalytic reaction conditions, thus confirming that they are intermediates in the reaction. A catalytic cycle has been proposed based on these observations. The molecular structure of 2 has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.
Complex [K3(phen)8][Cu(NPh2)2]3 (1, phen = phenanthroline) was isolated from the catalytic C-N cross coupling reaction based on the CuI-phen-tBuOK catalytic system. Complex 1 can react with 4-iodotoluene to give 4-methyl-N,N-diphenylaniline (3a) in 50% yield (based on all available NPh2(-) ligands of complex 1). In addition, 1 can also work as an effective catalyst for the C-N coupling reactions under the same reaction conditions, indicating that 1 may be an effective intermediate of the catalytic system. In the presence of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO), a radical scavenger, the stoichiometric reaction between complex 1 and 4-iodotoluene was significantly quenched to give a low yield of 12%. The results suggest that the radical path dominates in the reaction, with (phen)KNPh2 as the possible radical source. The structures of 1 and (phen)KNPh2 were both determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.
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