Cu-Catalyzed, ligand- and base-free cross-coupling of aryl boronic acids with primary and secondary amines has been reported. This ‘Chan–Evans–Lam’ reaction has revealed that at room temperature, with a catalytic amount of copper(II) acetate and ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an oxidant, N-arylation can result in an effective C–N bond formation. This air stable, practical, robust protocol enables tolerance towards a variety of functional groups on both boronic acid and amine partners.