Cu/Ag-Cocatalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Amination and CuCl2-Mediated Aerobic Oxidative Chloroamination of Maleimides

An efficient Cu(OAc)2/Ag2CO3-cocatalyzed approach for the synthesis of 3-aminomaleimides and 3-amino-4-indolylmaleimides has been developed with satisfactory yields. A series of primary and secondary amines are compatible with this reaction. In addition, treatment of maleimides with primary amines using 1 equiv. of CuCl2 leads to the formation of chloroamination products such as 3-amino-4-chloromaleimides by a radical-type mechanism.