Direct Synthesis of Amides by Dehydrogenative Coupling of Amines with either Alcohols or Esters: Manganese Pincer Complex as Catalyst

The first example of base‐metal‐catalysed synthesis of amides from the coupling of primary amines with either alcohols or esters is reported. The reactions are catalysed by a new manganese pincer complex and generate hydrogen gas as the sole byproduct, thus making the overall process atom‐economical and sustainable.     

Transition‐Metal‐Free Hydrogen Autotransfer: Diastereoselective N‐Alkylation of Amines with Racemic Alcohols

A practical method for the synthesis of α‐chiral amines by alkylation of amines with alcohols in the absence of any transition‐metal catalysts has been developed. Under the co‐catalysis of a ketone and NaOH, racemic secondary alcohols reacted with Ellman's chiral tert‐butanesulfinamide by a hydrogen autotransfer process to afford chiral amines with high diastereoselectivities (up to >99:1). Broad substrate scope and up to a 10 gram scale production of chiral amines were demonstrated. The method was applied to the synthesis of chiral deuterium‐labelled amines with high deuterium incorporation and optical purity, including examples of chiral deuterated drugs. The configuration of amine products is found to be determined solely by the configuration of the chiral tert‐butanesulfinamide regardless of that of alcohols, and this is corroborated by DFT calculations. Further mechanistic studies showed that the reaction is initiated by the ketone catalyst and involves a transition state similar to that proposed for the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) reduction, and importantly, it is the interaction of the sodium cation of the base with both the nitrogen and oxygen atoms of the sulfinamide moiety that makes feasible, and determines the diastereoselectivity of, the reaction.     

均相催化的醇和胺借氢反应

醇和胺的借氢反应是一种制备胺类化合物的绿色途径。本文介绍了借氢反应的概念,并重点介绍了均相催化的醇和胺之间借氢反应的起源、重要进展以及未来的发展趋势。     

A Manganese Pre‐Catalyst: Mild Reduction of Amides,Ketones, Aldehydes,and Esters

A new (N ‐phosphinoamidinate)manganese complex is shown to be a useful pre‐catalyst for the hydrosilative reduction of carbonyl compounds, and in most cases at room temperature. The Mn‐catalyzed reduction of tertiary amides to tertiary amines, with a useful scope, is demonstrated for the first time by use of this catalyst, and is competitive with the most effective transition‐metal catalysts known for such transformations. Ketones, aldehydes, and esters were also successfully reduced under mild conditions by using this new Mn catalyst.     

First Report for the Efficient Reduction of Oximes to Amines with Zinc Borohydride in the form of (Pyridine)(tetrahydroborato)zinc Complex

(Pyridine)(tetrahydroborato)zinc complex, (Py)Zn(BH₄)₂, as a stable modification of zinc borohydride can easily reduce a variety of aromatic and aliphatic aldoximes or ketoximes to their corresponding amines in high to excellent yields in refluxing THF.     

Safe and Efficient Reductive Methylation of Primary and Secondary Amines Using N-Methylpyrrolidine Zinc Borohydride

An efficient, general procedure for reductive methylation of primary and secondary amines with 37% formaldehyde using N-methylpyrrolidine zinc borohydride (ZBHNMP) as a reducing agent gave the corresponding tertiary amines in excellent yields. The reaction was carried out in tetrahydrofuran under neutral conditions at 0–10 °C.     

Chromium-Catalyzed Alkylation of Amines by Alcohols

The alkylation of amines by alcohols is a broadly applicable, sustainable, and selective method for the synthesis of alkyl amines, which are important bulk and fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. We show that Cr complexes can catalyze this C−N bond formation reaction. We synthesized and isolated 35 examples of alkylated amines, including 13 previously undisclosed products, and the use of amino alcohols as alkylating agents was demonstrated. The catalyst tolerates numerous functional groups, including hydrogenation-sensitive examples. Compared to many other alcohol-based amine alkylation methods, where a stoichiometric amount of base is required, our Cr-based catalyst system gives yields higher than 90 % for various alkyl amines with a catalytic amount of base. Our study indicates that Cr complexes can catalyze borrowing hydrogen or hydrogen autotransfer reactions and could thus be an alternative to Fe, Co, and Mn, or noble metals in (de)hydrogenation catalysis.     

Betaine Catalysis for Hierarchical Reduction of CO2 with Amines and Hydrosilane To Form Formamides,Aminals, and Methylamines

An efficient, sustainable organocatalyst, glycine betaine, was developed for the reductive functionalization of CO₂ with amines and diphenylsilane. Methylamines and formamides were obtained in high yield by tuning the CO₂ pressure and reaction temperature. Based on identification of the key intermediate, that is, the aminal, an alternative mechanism for methylation involving the C⁰ silyl acetal and aminal is proposed. Furthermore, reducing the CO₂ amount afforded aminals with high yield and selectivity. Therefore, betaine catalysis affords products with a diversified energy content that is, formamides, aminals and methylamines, by hierarchical two‐, four‐ and six‐electron reduction, respectively, of CO₂ coupled with C−N bond formation.