The reaction of benzene with diethylamine in the presence of an iridium(I)/mercury(II) based system: a model route for the direct amination of aromatic hydrocarbons

N,N-Diethylaniline is formed under mild conditions either by the direct amination of benzene with diethylamine in the presence of [Ir(?5-C5Me5)(CO)2] 1 and HgSO4, or by reacting (C6H5)2Hg or C6H5HgCl/Ag2SO4 with diethylamine in the presence of 1. A preliminary investigation about the chemistry underlying these reactions is also reported.