Chemoselective aerobic oxidation of 2-amino-N-benzylanilines into N-(2-aminophenyl)imines via a nitroxide-free copper catalysis.

Graphical abstract Highlights • Copper as catalyst, without nitroxyl radicals and ligands. • Molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant at room temperature. • Gram-scale synthesis. Abstract Chemoselective oxidative synthesis of N -(2-aminophenyl)imines from 2-amino- N -benzylanilines was accomplished through combined use of O 2 (air) and copper salt. This transformation was performed at room temperature, and the mild oxidation was efficient and chemoselective without using nitroxyl radicals and ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]