Organic letters

Synthesis of primary amines: first homogeneously catalyzed reductive amination with ammonia

T Gross, AM Seayad, M Ahmad, M Beller

Index: Gross, Thoralf; Seayad, Abdul Majeed; Ahmad, Moballigh; Beller, Matthias Organic Letters, 2002 , vol. 4, # 12 p. 2055 - 2058

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Citation Number: 137

Abstract

The synthesis of primary amines via reductive amination of the corresponding carbonyl compounds with aqueous ammonia is achieved for the first time with soluble transition metal complexes. Up to an 86% yield and a 97% selectivity for benzylamines were obtained in the case of various benzaldehydes by using a Rh-catalyst together with water-soluble phosphine and ammonium acetate. In the case of aliphatic aldehydes, a bimetallic catalyst ...