The present invention relates to process for preparing an
aromatic amine (I) which comprises reacting an aromatic
chloride (II) with an aminating agent (IV) selected from
ammonia, an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic primary or secondary amine in the presence of a
copper catalyst comprising
copper and a ligand of the formula (III) or a salt thereof (III) where X, Y are identical or different and selected from the group consisting of
halogen, OH, OR1, NH2, NHR2, N(R2)2, SH, SR3, SO3H, S(O)kR4 with k being 1, 2 or 3, where R1, R2, R3, R4 independently of each other are selected from the group of C1-C10
alkyl, C1-C10 haloalkyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C6-C10
aryl and C6-C10
aryl-C1-C4-
alkyl, where
aryl in the last two mentioned moieties is unsubstituted or substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 radicals Ra, where Ra is selected form F, CN, NO2, OH, SO3H, CH3, CF3 and OCH3; Z are both H or together form –CH=CH-.