Nickel-Catalyzed Amination of Silyloxyarenes through C-O Bond Activation

Silyloxyarenes were utilized as electrophilic coupling partners with amines in the synthesis of aniline derivatives. A diverse range of amine substrates were used, including cyclic or acyclic secondary amines, secondary anilines, and sterically hindered primary anilines. Additionally, a range of sterically hindered and unhindered primary aliphatic amines were employed, which have previously been challenging with other classes of aryl ether electrophiles. Orthogonal couplings of silyloxyarenes with aryl methyl ethers are illustrated, where selectivity between the two C-O electrophiles is determined by ligand control, thereby allowing complementary and selective late-stage diversification of either electrophile. Finally, a sequential coupling displays the utility of this amination method along with the reversal in intrinsic reactivity between aryl methyl ethers and silyloxyarenes.