Nickel-Catalyzed Decarboxylation of Aryl Carbamates for Converting Phenols into Aromatic Amines.

Herein, we describe a new catalytic approach to accessing aromatic amines from an abundant feedstock, namely phenols. The most reliable catalytic method for converting phenols to aromatic amines uses an activating group, such as a trifluoromethane sulfonyl group. However, this activating group is eliminated as a leaving group during the amination process, resulting in significant waste. Our nickel-catalyzed decarboxylation reaction of aryl carbamates forms aromatic amines with carbon dioxide as the only byproduct. As this amination proceeds in the absence of free amines, a range of functionalities, including a formyl group, are compatible. A bisphosphine ligand immobilized on a polystyrene support (PS-DPPBz) is key to the success of this reaction, generating a catalytic species that is significantly more active than simple nonsupported variants.