A new and convenient synthesis of N-substituted perhydroazepines from adipaldehyde and primary amines with tetracarbonylhydridoferrate,HFe(CO), as a selective reducing agent

Ethanolic tetracarbonylhydridoferrate combined with adipaldehyde is very efficient for the selective transformation of an amino group into perhydroazepine. A large variety of both aliphatic and aromatic amines react with adipaldehyde in the presence of tetracarbonylhydridoferrate at room temperature and carbon monoxide to give the corresponding N-alkyl- and N-arylperhydroazepines in good to excellent yields.