A convenient copper-catalyzed direct amination of nitroarenes with O-alkylhydroxylamines

O-Alkylhydroxylamines, particularly O-methylhydroxylamine, aminate nitroarenes in the presence of a strong base and a copper catalyst to give aminonitroarenes in good yields ortho- or para-Amination with respect to the nitro group takes place, and in some cases the ortho-aminated product is preferentially obtained. With 3-substituted nitrobenzenes where the substituent has a lone pair of electrons, preferential amination occurs at the 2-position to give the sterically most congested 3c-f, 14 and 22g.