Iron-Assisted and Cu-Mediated Direct Aminocarbonylation of Nitroarene with Boronic Acid

Herein, we have established the formation of diaryl amide by aminocarbonylation of nitrobenzene with boronic acids. The method works in the catalytic presence of economical and commercially available CuI salt, which was significantly promoted by the Fe₃Se₂(CO)₉ cluster. Mo(CO)₆ serves as a source of CO, and it also acts as a reductant with a combination of iron cluster. Moreover, all the reaction worked under the ligand-free system and produced the desired diaryl amide in a significant time of 10 h. Water, a green solvent, was used as a source of hydrogen for the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline. The method depicts a suitable functional group tolerance and produces a wide range of substrates in good to excellent amounts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report for the direct aminocarbonylation mediated by highly economical CuI. Moreover, water as a source of hydrogen for the reduction of nitroarene is always appreciated.