Preparation of copper(II) oxide bound on polystyrene beads and its application in the aryl aminations: synthesis of Imatinib

CuO nanoflakes bound on polystyrene beads (PS-CuO) were prepared through the oxidation of copper(I) bromide in a suspension of polystyrene. The use of PS-CuO as a catalyst in the presence of KOtBu in the coupling reactions of aryl bromides and amines afforded the coupled products with a yield range of 15–89%. This catalytic system also afforded the key fragment in good yield for the synthesis of Imatinib (Gleevec).