Catalytic behavior of the copper(I) complex containing cyclotriphosphazene as a tripodal tridentate ligand for the <i>N</i>-arylation of 2-pyrrolidinone: a comparative study with <i>C</i>-scorpionate ligand

The copper(I) complex containing cyclotriphosphazene as a tripodal tridentate ligand catalyzed the <i>N</i>-arylation of 2-pyrrolidinone with aryl iodides. The product yields of the reaction with electron-rich aryl iodides were lower than those with electron-deficient ones, while being scarcely affected by steric demand. These results imply that the reactions proceed <i>via</i> single electron transfer (SET)-radical chain process (S_RN1) mechanism including radical anions generated from the aryl iodides.