A bi-functional sugar-based surfactant ALA14 was designed as the ligand and micelle constructor and demonstrated to promote the copper-catalyzed C–X coupling reaction in water. The nature of this micelle, formed by sugar-based surfactants, was investigated with CMC, DLS, and TEM, by which encapsulation and aggregation of the substrates in micelles were verified. Additionally, it was addressed by ¹H-NMR analysis that the enrichment position of the substrates is in the lipophilic alkyl chain. Finally, moderate to excellent yields of the aimed products were obtained in this work. This remarkably simple strategy expanded the scope of C–X coupling reaction in water; most notably, both water and ALA14 can be recycled and reused.

Three different types of functionalized-CS were prepared and anchored with copper salts for use as the catalyst for the Ullmann C–X coupling reaction.

The natural compound β-cyclodextrin supported copper complex (CuI@β-CD) was prepared and employed as catalyst for an Ullmann-type C–N coupling reaction of N-nucleophiles and aryl halides under mild conditions. Reactions with different substrates were examined, and moderate to excellent yields were obtained. In addition to the high efficiency, the reaction system is also noticeable due to the excellent recoverability and reusability of the catalyst.