Copper‐Catalyzed Decarbonylative Synthesis of Pyridyl‐Substituted Ureas by the Reaction of 2‐Aminopyridines with N ‐Arylmaleimides as N ‐Arylcarbamoyl Surrogate

An efficient synthesis of pyridyl‐substituted unsymmetrical ureas has been accomplished by the reaction of 2‐aminopyridines with N ‐arylmaleimides in the presence of catalytic copper acetate. Interestingly, the N ‐arylmaleimides act as N ‐arylcarbamoyl surrogate, and the reaction is endowed with good substrate scope and functional group tolerance.