Direct Access to 1,3,5-Trisubstituted 1H-1,2,4-Triazoles from N-Phenylbenzamidines via Copper-Catalyzed Diamination of Aryl Nitriles.

A copper-catalyzed formation of C-N/N-N bonds using N-phenylbenzamidines with aryl nitriles has been developed and affords a route to 1,3,5-trisubstituted 1H-1,2,4-triazoles in moderate to excellent yields. The method is operationally simple and environmentally benign with a large substrate scope available and represents an economical path for numerous C-N/N-N bond formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]