Ligand‐free CuTC‐catalyzed N ‐arylation of amides, anilines and 4‐aminoantipyrine: synthesis of N ‐arylacrylamides, 4‐amido‐ N ‐phenylbenzamides and 4‐amino( N ‐phenyl)antipyrenes

N ‐Arylation of amides and anilines with aryl iodides was efficiently catalyzed by copper thiophenecarboxylate under ligand‐free conditions with good to excellent yields. A variety of substituted aryl iodides, amides, anilines and 4‐aminoantipyrine were found to be applicable to the simple catalytic system. Furthermore, some practical, unique secondary amides, such as N ‐arylacrylamides and 4‐amido‐ N ‐phenylbenzamides, and 4‐amino( N ‐phenyl)antipyrenes, which are difficult to obtain by the classical methods, were prepared. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.