The scope and limitation of nickel-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of aryl bromides from formamide derivatives.

Nickel-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of aryl halides is described. A well-defined air-stable nickel-phosphite catalytic system (Ni(OAc)(2).4H(2)O/phosphite 1) effectively promoted the aminocarbonylation of aryl bromides with a range of formamides to give the corresponding aryl amide products in moderate to good yields. The less hindered formamide required lower catalytic loading for full conversion and produced higher yields than the more hindered one. It also exhibited base-dependent activity toward formamides.