N-Arylation of Amides with Cu₂O Nano-particles

Significance

PEG₄₀₀₀-stabilized Cu₂O nanoparticles, which were generated in situ by mixing copper iodide, potassium hydroxide, and PEG₄₀₀₀ catalyzed the N-arylation of amides 1 with aryl ­iodides 2 to give the corresponding N-arylated amides 3 in up to 80% yield (10 examples). The catalyst was recovered by centrifugation and reused twice without loss of catalytic activity (for the formation of 3d, 1^st reuse: 78% yield, 2^nd reuse: 78% yield).