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.     

Development of a General Non‐Noble Metal Catalyst for the Benign Amination of Alcohols with Amines and Ammonia

The N‐alkylation of amines or ammonia with alcohols is a valuable route for the synthesis of N‐alkyl amines. However, as a potentially clean and economic choice for N‐alkyl amine synthesis, non‐noble metal catalysts with high activity and good selectivity are rarely reported. Normally, they are severely limited due to low activity and poor generality. Herein, a simple NiCuFeO_x catalyst was designed and prepared for the N‐alkylation of ammonia or amines with alcohol or primary amines. N‐alkyl amines with various structures were successfully synthesized in moderate to excellent yields in the absence of organic ligands and bases. Typically, primary amines could be efficiently transformed into secondary amines and N‐heterocyclic compounds, and secondary amines could be N‐alkylated to synthesize tertiary amines. Note that primary and secondary amines could be produced through a one‐pot reaction of ammonia and alcohols. In addition to excellent catalytic performance, the catalyst itself possesses outstanding superiority, that is, it is air and moisture stable. Moreover, the magnetic property of this catalyst makes it easily separable from the reaction mixture and it could be recovered and reused for several runs without obvious deactivation.     

Manganese‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Alkylation or α‐Olefination of Alkyl‐Substituted N‐Heteroarenes with Alcohols

Catalysis with earth‐abundant transition metals is an option to help save our rare noble‐metal resources and is especially interesting when novel reactivity or selectivity patterns are observed. We report here on a novel reaction, namely the dehydrogenative alkylation or α‐olefination of alkyl‐substituted N‐heteroarenes with alcohols. Manganese complexes developed in our laboratory catalyze the reaction with high efficiency whereas iron and cobalt complexes stabilized by the same ligands are essentially inactive. Hydrogen is liberated during the reaction, and bromine and iodine functional groups as well as olefins are tolerated. A variety of alkyl‐substituted N‐heteroarenes can be functionalized, and benzylic and aliphatic alcohols undergo the reaction.     

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.     

Enthalpy of cooperative hydrogen bonding in complexes of tertiary amines with aliphatic alcohols: Calorimetric study

The work is devoted to the investigation of thermodynamics of specific interaction of the tertiary aliphatic and aromatic amines with associated solvents as which aliphatic alcohols were taken. Solution enthalpies of aliphatic alcohols in amines (tri-n-propylamine, 2-methylpyridine, 3-methylpyridine, N-methylimidazole) as well as amines in alcohols were measured at infinite dilution. The enthalpies of specific interaction (H-bonding) in systems studied were determined based on experimental data. The enthalpies of specific interaction of amines in aliphatic alcohols significantly lower than the enthalpies of hydrogen bonding in complexes amine–alcohol of 1:1 composition determined in base media due to the reorganization of aliphatic alcohols as solvents. The determination of solvent reorganization contribution makes possible to define the hydrogen bonding enthalpies of amines with clusters of alcohols. Obtained enthalpies of hydrogen bonding in multi-particle complexes are sensitive to the influence of cooperative effect. It was shown, that hydrogen bond cooperativity factors in multi-particle complexes of alcohols with amines are approximately equal for all alcohols when pyridines and N-methylimidazole as solutes are used. At the same time, H-bonding cooperativity factors in complexes of trialkylamines with associative species of alcohols decrease with increasing of alkyl radical length in alcohol and amine molecules.This work shows that the thermodynamic functions of specific interaction of solutes with associated solvents cannot be described using the H-bond parameters for the complexes of 1:1 composition.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Alkylation of Aromatic Amines by Alcohols

The implementation of inexpensive, Earth‐abundant metals in typical noble‐metal‐mediated chemistry is a major goal in homogeneous catalysis. A sustainable or green reaction that has received a lot of attention in recent years and is preferentially catalyzed by Ir or Ru complexes is the alkylation of amines by alcohols. It is based on the borrowing hydrogen or hydrogen autotransfer concept. Herein, we report on the Co‐catalyzed alkylation of aromatic amines by alcohols. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions, and selectively generates monoalkylated amines. The observed selectivity allows the synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted diamines. A novel Co complex stabilized by a PN₅P ligand catalyzes the reactions most efficiently.     

Impregnated ruthenium on magnetite as a recyclable catalyst for the N-alkylation of amines, sulfonamides, sulfinamides, and nitroarenes using alcohols as electrophiles by a hydrogen autotransfer process

Various impregnated metallic salts on magnetite have been prepared, including cobalt, nickel, copper, ruthenium, and palladium salts, as well as a bimetallic palladium-copper derivative. Impregnated ruthenium catalyst is a versatile, inexpensive, and simple system for the selective N-monoalkylation of amino derivatives with poor nucleophilic character, such as aromatic and heteroaromatic amines, sulfonamides, sulfinamides, and nitroarenes, using in all cases alcohols as the initial source of the electrophile, through a hydrogen autotransfer process. In the case of sulfinamides, this is the first time that these amino compounds have been alkylated following this strategy, allowing the use of chiral sulfinamides and secondary alcohols to give the alkylated compound with a diastereomeric ratio of 92:8. In these cases, after alkylation, a simple acid deprotection gave the expected primary amines in good yields. The ruthenium catalyst is quite sensitive, and small modifications of the reaction medium can change the final product. The alkylation of amines using potassium hydroxide renders the N-monoalkylated amines, and the same protocol using sodium hydroxide yields the related imines. The catalyst can be easily removed by a simple magnet and can be reused up to ten times, showing the same activity.     

Hydrogen bonding by alcohols and amines

The pure base calorimetric method has been used to determine the enthalpies of hydrogen bond complex formation between aliphatic amines and alcohols. The enthalpies of complexation for the series methanol-n-butanol bonding with triethylamine increase with decreasing alkyl chain length in accordance with the electron donating properties of alkyl groups. Unexpectedly, the enthalpies for the complexes of n-butanol with tributylamine, tripropylamine, and triethylamine increase with decreasing alkyl chain length.Primary and secondary amines form hydrogen bonded complexes with n-butanol in which the amine protons form an NH···O bond with the alcohol and the alcohol hydroxyl proton donates a proton to the amine nitrogen. The difference in enthalpy of complex formation between tertiary amines and secondary amines is largely accounted for by the involvement of the amine proton of the secondary amine. Primary amines, like secondary amines, donate only one proton to the complex with n-butanol but have a larger complex enthalpy than secondary amines probably because of steric hindrance and differences in basicity.     

Phase-transfer-catalyzed alkylation of guanidines by alkyl halides under biphasic conditions: a convenient protocol for the synthesis of highly functionalized guanidines

An operationally straightforward and efficient method for the alkylation of carbamate-protected guanidines with various alkyl halides and mesylates is described. This protocol proceeds via deprotonation of the acidic N-carbamate hydrogen of the guanidine under biphasic conditions using a catalytic amount of a tetrabutylammonium salt as a phase-transfer catalyst. In this manner, highly functionalized guanidines can be obtained. The reaction is tolerant of a wide range of functional groups on both the alkyl halide and guanidine component. In addition, the reaction is sufficiently mild such that simple aqueous workup and filtration through a short silica gel column yields the substituted guanidines in high purity. In conjunction with the EDCI-mediated guanylation of disubstituted thioureas with amines, phase-transfer catalyzed alkylation of guanidines via a one-pot, three-component synthesis of substituted guanidines was achieved.     

Ionic liquid and solid HF equivalent amine-poly(hydrogen fluoride) complexes effecting efficient environmentally friendly isobutane-isobutylene alkylation

Isoparaffin-olefin alkylation was investigated using liquid as well as solid onium poly(hydrogen fluoride) catalysts. These new immobilized anhydrous HF catalysts contain varied amines and nitrogen-containing polymers as complexing agents. The liquid poly(hydrogen fluoride) complexes of amines are typical ionic liquids, which are convenient media and serve as HF equivalent catalysts with decreased volatility for isoparaffin-olefin alkylation. Polymeric solid amine:poly(hydrogen fluoride) complexes are excellent solid HF equivalents for similar alkylation acid catalysis. Isobutane-isobutylene or 2-butene alkylation gave excellent yields of high octane alkylates (up to RON = 94). Apart from their excellent catalytic performance, the new catalyst systems significantly reduce environmental hazards due to the low volatility of complexed HF. They represent a new, "green" class of catalyst systems for alkylation reactions, maintaining activity of HF while minimizing its environmental hazards.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed N‐Alkylation of Acylhydrazines and Arylamines Using Alcohols and Enantioselective Examples

A borrowing‐hydrogen reaction between amines and alcohols is an atom‐economic way to prepare alkylamines, ideally with water as the sole byproduct. Herein, nickel catalysts are used for direct N‐alkylation of hydrazides and arylamines using racemic alcohols. Moreover, a nickel catalyst of (S )‐binapine was used for an asymmetric N‐alkylation of benzohydrazide with racemic benzylic alcohols.     

Manganese-Catalyzed β-Methylation of Alcohols by Methanol

We report an earth-abundant-metal-catalyzed double and single methylation of alcohols. A manganese catalyst, which operates at low catalyst loadings and short reaction times, mediates these reactions efficiently. A broad scope of primary and secondary alcohols, including purely aliphatic examples, and 1,2-aminoalcohols can be methylated. Furthermore, alcohol methylation for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals has been demonstrated. The catalyst system tolerates many functional groups among them hydrogenation-sensitive examples and upscaling is easily achieved. Mechanistic investigations are indicative of a borrowing hydrogen or hydrogen autotransfer mechanism involving a bimetallic K-Mn catalyst. The catalyst accepts hydrogen as a proton and a hydride from alcohols efficiently and reacts with a chalcone via hydride transfer.     

Manganese‐Catalyzed β‐Methylation of Alcohols by Methanol

We report an earth‐abundant‐metal‐catalyzed double and single methylation of alcohols. A manganese catalyst, which operates at low catalyst loadings and short reaction times, mediates these reactions efficiently. A broad scope of primary and secondary alcohols, including purely aliphatic examples, and 1,2‐aminoalcohols can be methylated. Furthermore, alcohol methylation for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals has been demonstrated. The catalyst system tolerates many functional groups among them hydrogenation‐sensitive examples and upscaling is easily achieved. Mechanistic investigations are indicative of a borrowing hydrogen or hydrogen autotransfer mechanism involving a bimetallic K‐Mn catalyst. The catalyst accepts hydrogen as a proton and a hydride from alcohols efficiently and reacts with a chalcone via hydride transfer.     

Ortho‐Alkylation of Phenol with Methanol Using Pb‐Cr Promoted Magnesium Oxide Catalysts

In this study, Pb‐Cr promoted magnesium oxide catalysts were used to catalyze the ortho‐alkylation of phenol in the presence of excess methanol. The Cr/MgO catalyst exhibited a high conversion of phenol and a relatively high selectivity for the ortho‐alkylation of phenol. The catalytic activity and the stability of Cr/MgO were improved by the addition of a fairly small amount of Pb. The Pb‐Cr/MgO catalyst showed specificity for the ortho‐alkylation of phenol, which was proved by a series of phenol derivative reactions with methanol.     

Direct Regiospecific and Highly Enantioselective Intermolecular α‐Allylic Alkylation of Aldehydes by a Combination of Transition‐Metal and Chiral Amine Catalysts

The first direct intermolecular regiospecific and highly enantioselective α‐allylic alkylation of linear aldehydes by a combination of achiral bench‐stable Pd⁰ complexes and simple chiral amines as co‐catalysts is disclosed. The co‐catalytic asymmetric chemoselective and regiospecific α‐allylic alkylation reaction is linked in tandem with in situ reduction to give the corresponding 2‐alkyl alcohols with high enantiomeric ratios (up to 98:2 e.r.; e.r.=enantiomeric ratio). It is also an expeditious entry to valuable 2‐alkyl substituted hemiacetals, 2‐alkyl‐butane‐1,4‐diols, and amines. The concise co‐catalytic asymmetric total syntheses of biologically active natural products (e.g., Arundic acid) are disclosed.     

The “Borrowing Hydrogen Strategy” by Supported Ruthenium Hydroxide Catalysts: Synthetic Scope of Symmetrically and Unsymmetrically Substituted Amines

The N‐alkylation of ammonia (or its surrogates, such as urea, NH₄HCO₃, and (NH₄)₂CO₃) and amines with alcohols, including primary and secondary alcohols, was efficiently promoted under anaerobic conditions by the easily prepared and inexpensive supported ruthenium hydroxide catalyst Ru(OH)_x/TiO₂. Various types of symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted “tertiary” amines could be synthesized by the N‐alkylation of ammonia (or its surrogates) and amines with “primary” alcohols. On the other hand, the N‐alkylation of ammonia surrogates (i.e., urea and NH₄HCO₃) with “secondary” alcohols selectively produced the corresponding symmetrically substituted “secondary” amines, even in the presence of excess amounts of alcohols, which is likely due to the steric hindrance of the secondary alcohols and/or secondary amines produced. Under aerobic conditions, nitriles could be synthesized directly from alcohols and ammonia surrogates. The observed catalysis for the present N‐alkylation reactions was intrinsically heterogeneous, and the retrieved catalyst could be reused without any significant loss of catalytic performance. The present catalytic transformation would proceed through consecutive N‐alkylation reactions, in which alcohols act as alkylating reagents. On the basis of deuterium‐labeling experiments, the formation of the ruthenium dihydride species is suggested during the N‐alkylation reactions.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed selective synthesis of monoalkylated barbituric acids through “borrowing hydrogen” methodology

An environmentally benign alkylation of barbituric acids via “borrowing hydrogen” process with ruthenium catalysis has been established. The corresponding 5-(alkyl)barubituric acids were obtained in good to excellent yields with low catalyst loading. Various substrates including aliphatic alcohols were tolerated in the present catalytic system. A novel method for construction of barbituric acid-fused benzopyrane derivatives was also demonstrated.     

Oxidation and β‐Alkylation of Alcohols Catalysed by Iridium(I) Complexes with Functionalised N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

The borrowing hydrogen methodology allows for the use of alcohols as alkylating agents for C?C bond forming processes offering significant environmental benefits over traditional approaches. Iridium(I)‐cyclooctadiene complexes having a NHC ligand with a O‐ or N‐functionalised wingtip efficiently catalysed the oxidation and β‐alkylation of secondary alcohols with primary alcohols in the presence of a base. The cationic complex [Ir(NCCH₃)(cod)(MeIm(2‐ methoxybenzyl))][BF₄] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene, MeIm=1‐methylimidazolyl) having a rigid O‐functionalised wingtip, shows the best catalyst performance in the dehydrogenation of benzyl alcohol in acetone, with an initial turnover frequency (TOF₀) of 1283 h^?1, and also in the β‐alkylation of 2‐propanol with butan‐1‐ol, which gives a conversion of 94 % in 10 h with a selectivity of 99 % for heptan‐2‐ol. We have investigated the full reaction mechanism including the dehydrogenation, the cross‐aldol condensation and the hydrogenation step by DFT calculations. Interestingly, these studies revealed the participation of the iridium catalyst in the key step leading to the formation of the new C?C bond that involves the reaction of an O‐bound enolate generated in the basic medium with the electrophilic aldehyde.     

Scope and limitations of the Pd/BINAP-catalyzed amination of aryl bromides

Mixtures of Pd(2)(dba)(3) or Pd(OAc)(2) and BINAP catalyze the cross-coupling of amines with a variety of aryl bromides. Primary amines are arylated in high yield, and certain classes of secondary amines are also effectively transformed. The process tolerates the presence of several functional groups including methyl and ethyl esters, enolizable ketones, and nitro groups provided that cesium carbonate is employed as the base. Most reactions proceed to completion with 0.5-1.0 mol % of the palladium catalyst; in some cases, catalyst levels as low as 0.05 mol % Pd may be employed. Reactions are considerably faster if Pd(OAc)(2) is employed as the precatalyst, and the order in which reagents are added to the reaction has a substantial effect on reaction rate. It is likely that the catalytic process proceeds via bis(phosphine)palladium complexes as intermediates. These complexes are less prone to undergo undesirable side reactions which lead to diminished yields or catalyst deactivation than complexes of the corresponding monodentate triarylphosphines.     

Pt-Sn/γ-Al2O3-catalyzed highly efficient direct synthesis of secondary and tertiary amines and imines

Versatile syntheses of secondary and tertiary amines by highly efficient direct N‐alkylation of primary and secondary amines with alcohols or by deaminative self‐coupling of primary amines have been successfully realized by means of a heterogeneous bimetallic Pt–Sn/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst (0.5 wt % Pt, Pt/Sn molar ratio=1:3) through a borrowing‐hydrogen strategy. In the presence of oxygen, imines were also efficiently prepared from the tandem reactions of amines with alcohols or between two primary amines. The proposed mechanism reveals that an alcohol or amine substrate is initially dehydrogenated to an aldehyde/ketone or NH‐imine with concomitant formation of a [PtSn] hydride. Condensation of the aldehyde/ketone species or deamination of the NH‐imine intermediate with another molecule of amine forms an N‐substituted imine which is then reduced to a new amine product by the in‐situ generated [PtSn] hydride under a nitrogen atmosphere or remains unchanged as the final product under an oxygen atmosphere. The Pt–Sn/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst can be easily recycled without Pt metal leaching and has exhibited very high catalytic activity toward a wide range of amine and alcohol substrates, which suggests potential for application in the direct production of secondary and tertiary amines and N‐substituted imines.