An efficient copper-catalyzed N-arylation of amides: synthesis of N-arylacrylamides and 4-amido-N-phenylbenzamides

Copper-catalyzed intermolecular C–N bond-forming reactions between aryl iodides and amides are described using sodium ascorbate, which is both cheap and nontoxic, as the additive. A variety of functionalized amides including some practical, unique secondary amides, such as N-arylacrylamides and 4-amido-N-phenylbenzamides, which are difficult to obtain by the classical methods, are prepared. Furthermore, some tertiary amides are prepared by using copper thiophenecarboxylate.