Unique copper–salen complex: an efficient catalyst for N-arylations of anilines and imidazoles at room temperature

We have reported here the catalytic activity of a unique Cu–salen type complex in N-arylation of anilines with arylboronic acids in water. The protocol is found to be applicable for a wide range of electronically diversified arylboronic acids and anilines with excellent yields of the isolated product. Further the scope of this protocol has been extended to the synthesis of various N-aryl imidazoles in iso-propanol.