The Cu(I)-catalyzed N,N'-diarylation of natural diamines and polyamines such as putrescine, cadaverine, spermine, spermidine and their homologues is described. Aryl iodides bearing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups have been employed in the study. The CuI/2-(isobutyryl)cyclohexanone/DMF catalytic system has found to be more efficient in the diarylation of diamines and spermine while the CuI/L-proline/EtCN system proved to be preferable for the diarylation of other tri- and tetraamines like spermidine, norspermidine and norspermine.
Keywords: amination; aryl amines; aryl iodides; copper catalysis; polyamines.