Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of N,N-Dimethylanilines via Buchwald-Hartwig Amination of (Hetero)aryl Triflates.

This work delineates the synthesis of N,N-dimethylaniline derivatives from dimethylamines and aryl triflates. The palladium-catalyzed C-N bond formation proceeds in excellent yields, using an unsophisticated catalytic system, a mild base, and triflates as electrophiles, which are readily available from inexpensive phenols. N,N-Dimethylanilines are multifunctional reaction partners and represent useful but underutilized building blocks in organic synthesis.