Primary amines by transfer hydrogenative reductive amination of ketones by using cyclometalated Ir(III) catalysts

Reductive Amination of Aldehyde and Ketone with Ammonia and H2 by an In Situ-Generated Cobalt Catalyst under Mild Conditions

Herein, we present the simplest approach for the synthesis of primary amines via reductive amination using H2 as a reductant and aqueous ammonia as a nitrogen source, catalyzed by amorphous Co particles. The highly active Co particles were prepared in situ by simply mixing commercially available CoCl2 and NaBH4/NaHBEt3 without any ligand or support. This reaction system features mild conditions (80 °C, 1-10 bar), high selectivity (99%), a wide substrate scope, simple operation, and easy separation of the catalyst. The successful large-scale application of this reaction in the production of primary amines suggests its potential industrial interest.

Advances in electrocatalytic dehydrogenation of ethylamine to acetonitrile

The electrocatalytic dehydrogenation of ethylamine (EDH), owing to its high hydrogen content, holds broad prospects in electrochemical hydrogen (H2) production, H2 storage, and addressing energy issues, thus deserving wide attention. In this feature article, we first summarized the fundamentals of thermocatalytic and electrocatalytic EDH and reviewed the recent state-of-the-art advances in catalyst research, specifically platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts and non-PGM catalysts. We systematically discussed the potential applications of electrocatalytic EDH in energy storage and conversion. Finally, we provide our perspective on the key challenges and future developments in this field. We believe this feature article will offer helpful guidance for oriented design and optimization of stable and efficient catalysts for electrocatalytic EDH and related energy applications.

Ammonia surrogates in the synthesis of primary amines

Primary amines are derivatives of ammonia in which one hydrogen atom is replaced by an alkyl or aryl group. Ammonia serves as the primary nitrogen source in amination reactions, and its utilization in solution or as a pure gas has witnessed notable advancements. However, the use of gaseous ammonia remains problematic in academic laboratory settings, while employing aqueous ammonia poses challenges in highly water-sensitive transformations. Consequently, the search for alternative sources of ammonia has garnered considerable attention among the organic chemistry community. This comprehensive literature review focuses on the use of ammonia surrogates in amination reactions, irrespective of the resulting intermediate. The review emphasizes the formation of the C-N bond and underscores the importance of generating intermediate products that can be readily transformed into primary amines through well-established reactions.

Promoting Amination of Furfural to Furfurylamine by Metal-Support Interactions on Pd/MoO3-x Catalysts

The reductive amination of carbonyl compounds is one of the most straightforward protocols to construct C-N bonds, but highly desires active and selective catalysts. Herein, Pd/MoO3-x catalysts are proposed for furfural amination, in which the interactions between Pd nanoparticles and MoO3-x supports can be easily ameliorated by varying the preparation temperature toward efficient catalytic turnover. Thanks to the synergistic cooperation of MoV -rich MoO3-x and highly dispersed Pd, the optimal catalysts afford the high yield of furfurylamine (84 %) at 80 °C. Thereinto, MoV species not only acts as the acidic promoter to facilitate the activation of carbonyl groups, but also interacts with Pd nanoparticles to promote the subsequent hydrogenolysis of Schiff base N-furfurylidenefurfurylamine and its germinal diamine. The good efficiency of Pd/MoO3-x within a broad substrate scope further highlights the key contribution of metal-support interactions to the refinery of biomass feedstocks.

Hexaazatrinaphthalene-Based Covalent Triazine Framework-Supported Rhodium(III) Complex: A Recyclable Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Reductive Amination of Ketones to Primary Amines

The development of efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalysts is an important topic. Herein, a rhodium(III) complex Cp*Rh@HATN-CTF was synthesized by the coordinative immobilization of [Cp*RhCl₂]₂ on a hexaazatrinaphthalene-based covalent triazine framework. In the presence of Cp*Rh@HATN-CTF (1 mo l% Rh), a series of primary amines could be obtained via the reductive amination of ketones in high yields. Moreover, catalytic activity of Cp*Rh@HATN-CTF is well maintained during six runs. The present catalytic system was also applied for the large scale preparation of a biologically active compound. It would facilitate the development of CTF-supported transition metal catalysts for sustainable chemistry.

Selective Conversion of HMF into 3-Hydroxymethylcyclopentylamine through a One-Pot Cascade Process in Aqueous Phase over Bimetallic NiCo Nanoparticles as Catalyst

5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has been successfully valorized into 3-hydroxymethylcyclopentylamine through a one-pot cascade process in aqueous phase by coupling the hydrogenative ring-rearrangement of HMF into 3-hydroxymethylcyclopentanone (HCPN) with a subsequent reductive amination with ammonia. Mono- (Ni@C, Co@C) and bimetallic (NiCo@C) nanoparticles with different Ni/Co ratios partially covered by a thin carbon layer were prepared and characterized. Results showed that a NiCo catalyst, (molar ratio Ni/Co=1, Ni_0.5 Co_0.5 @C), displayed excellent performance in the hydrogenative ring-rearrangement of HMF into HCPN (>90 % yield). The high selectivity of the catalyst was attributed to the formation of NiCo alloy structures as hydrogenating sites that limited competitive reactions such as the hydrogenation of furan ring and the over-reduction of the formed HPCN. The subsequent reductive amination of HPCN with aqueous ammonia was performed giving the target cyclopentylaminoalcohol in 97 % yield. Moreover, the catalyst exhibited high stability maintaining its activity and selectivity for repeated reaction cycles.

The mechanism of direct reductive amination of aldehyde and amine with formic acid catalyzed by boron trifluoride complexes: insights from a DFT study

A volcano diagram of BF3 catalytic species and their activities was proposed for the DRA of aldehyde and amine with formic acid.

Direct reductive amination of ketones with ammonium salt catalysed by Cp*Ir(III) complexes bearing an amidato ligand

A series of half-sandwich Ir(III) complexes 1-6 bearing an amidato bidentate ligand were conveniently synthesized and applied to the catalytic Leuckart-Wallach reaction to produce racemic α-chiral primary amines. With 0.1 mol% of complex 1, a broad range of ketones, including aryl ketones, dialkyl ketones, cyclic ketones, α-keto acids, α-keto esters and diketones, could be transformed to their corresponding primary amines with moderate to excellent yields (40%-95%). Asymmetric transformation was also attempted with chiral Ir complexes 3-6, and 16% ee of the desired primary amine was obtained. Despite the unsatisfactory enantio-control achieved so far, the current exploration might stimulate more efforts towards the discovery of better chiral catalysts for this challenging but important transformation.

Ruthenacycles and Iridacycles as Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysts

In this review, we describe the synthesis and use in hydrogen transfer reactions of ruthenacycles and iridacycles. The review limits itself to metallacycles where a ligand is bound in bidentate fashion to either ruthenium or iridium via a carbon–metal sigma bond, as well as a dative bond from a heteroatom or an N-heterocyclic carbene. Pincer complexes fall outside the scope. Described are applications in (asymmetric) transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes, ketones, and imines, as well as reductive aminations. Oxidation reactions, i.e., classical Oppenauer oxidation, which is the reverse of transfer hydrogenation, as well as dehydrogenations and oxidations with oxygen, are described. Racemizations of alcohols and secondary amines are also catalyzed by ruthenacycles and iridacycles.

Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Blockers: Synthesis of Mexiletine Analogues and Homologues

Mexiletine is an antiarrhythmic drug belonging to IB class, acting as sodium channel blocker. Besides its well-known activity on arrhythmias, its usefulness in the treatment of myotonia, myotonic dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is now widely recognized. Nevertheless, it has been retired from the market in several countries because of its undesired effects. Thus, several papers were reported in the last years about analogues and homologues of mexiletine being endowed with a wider therapeutic ratio and a more selectivity of action. Some of them showed sodium channel blocking activity higher than the parent compound. It is noteworthy that mexiletine is used in therapy as a racemate even though a difference in the activities of the two enantiomers was widely demonstrated, with (-)-(R)-enantiomer being more active: this finding led several research groups to study mexiletine and its analogues and homologues in their optically active forms. This review summarizes the different synthetic routes used to obtain these compounds. They could represent an interesting starting point to new mexiletine-like compounds without common side effects related to the use of mexiletine.

Air Stable Iridium Catalysts for Direct Reductive Amination of Ketones

Half-sandwich iridium complexes bearing bidentate urea-phosphorus ligands were found to catalyze the direct reductive amination of aromatic and aliphatic ketones under mild conditions at 0.5 mol % loading with high selectivity towards primary amines. One of the complexes was found to be active in both the Leuckart-Wallach (NH₄ CO₂ H) type reaction as well as in the hydrogenative (H₂ /NH₄ AcO) reductive amination. The protocol with ammonium formate does not require an inert atmosphere, dry solvents, as well as additives and in contrast to previous reports takes place in hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) instead of methanol. Applying NH₄ CO₂ D or D₂ resulted in a high degree of deuterium incorporation into the primary amine α-position.

Chiral cyclometalated iridium complexes for asymmetric reduction reactions

A series of chiral cyclometalated iridium complexes have been synthesised by cyclometalating chiral 2-aryl-oxazoline and imidazoline ligands with [Cp*IrCl2]2. These iridacycles were studied for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reactions with formic acid as the hydrogen source and were found to display various activities and enantioselectivities, with the most effective ones affording up to 63% ee in the asymmetric reductive amination of ketones and 77% ee in the reduction of pyridinium ions.

Recent advances on transition-metal-catalysed asymmetric reductive amination

This review focuses on the recent progress of homogeneous transition-metal-catalysed asymmetric reductive amination of ketones with diverse nitrogen sources.

Synthesis of Unprotected 2-Arylglycines by Transamination of Arylglyoxylic Acids with 2-(2-Chlorophenyl)glycine

The transamination of α-keto acids with 2-phenylglycine is an effective methodology for directly synthesizing unprotected α-amino acids. However, the synthesis of 2-arylglycines by transamination is problematic because the corresponding products, 2-arylglycines, transaminate the starting arylglyoxylic acids. Herein, we demonstrate the use of commercially available l-2-(2-chlorophenyl)glycine as the nitrogen source in the transamination of arylglyoxylic acids, producing the corresponding 2-arylglycines without interference from the undesired self-transamination process.

Scope and Limitations of Reductive Amination Catalyzed by Half-Sandwich Iridium Complexes Under Mild Reaction Conditions

The conversion of aldehydes and ketones to 1° amines could be promoted by half-sandwich iridium complexes using ammonium formate as both the nitrogen and hydride source. To optimize this method for green chemical synthesis, we tested various carbonyl substrates in common polar solvents at physiological temperature (37 °C) and ambient pressure. We found that in methanol, excellent selectivity for the amine over alcohol/amide products could be achieved for a broad assortment of carbonyl-containing compounds. In aqueous media, selective reduction of carbonyls to 1° amines was achieved in the absence of acids. Unfortunately, at Ir catalyst concentrations of <1 mM in water, reductive amination efficiency dropped significantly, which suggest that this catalytic methodology might be not suitable for aqueous applications where very low catalyst concentration is required (e.g., inside living cells).

Cross-Linked Cyclodextrins Bimetallic Nanocatalysts: Applications in Microwave-Assisted Reductive Aminations

The optimization of sustainable protocols for reductive amination has been a lingering challenge in green synthesis. In this context, a comparative study of different metal-loaded cross-linked cyclodextrins (CDs) were examined for the microwave (MW)-assisted reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones using either H₂ or formic acid as a hydrogen source. The Pd/Cu heterogeneous nanocatalyst based on Pd (II) and Cu (I) salts embedded in a β-CD network was the most efficient in terms of yield and selectivity attained. In addition, the polymeric cross-linking avoided metal leaching, thus enhancing the process sustainability; good yields were realized using benzylamine under H₂. These interesting findings were then applied to the MW-assisted one-pot synthesis of secondary amines via a tandem reductive amination of benzaldehyde with nitroaromatics under H₂ pressure. The formation of a Cu_xPd_y alloy under reaction conditions was discerned, and a synergic effect due to the cooperation between Cu and Pd has been hypothesized. During the reaction, the system worked as a bifunctional nanocatalyst wherein the Pd sites facilitate the reduction of nitro compounds, while the Cu species promote the subsequent imine hydrogenation affording structurally diverse secondary amines with high yields.

A consecutive process for C-C and C-N bond formation with high enantio-and diastereo-control: direct reductive amination of chiral ketones using hydrogenation catalysts

High diastereoselectivity was observed in the Rh-catalysed reductive amination of 3-arylcyclohexanones to form tertiary amines. This was incorporated into a one-pot enantioselective conjugate addition and diastereoselective reductive amination, including an example of assisted tandem catalysis.

A Multicatalytic Approach to the Hydroaminomethylation of α-Olefins

We report an approach to conducting the hydroaminomethylation of diverse α-olefins with a wide range of alkyl, aryl, and heteroarylamines at relatively low temperatures (70-80 °C) and pressures (1.0-3.4 bar) of synthesis gas. This approach is based on simultaneously using two distinct catalysts that are mutually compatible. The hydroformylation step is catalyzed by a rhodium diphosphine complex, and the reductive amination step, which is conducted as a transfer hydrogenation with aqueous, buffered sodium formate as the reducing agent, is catalyzed by a cyclometallated iridium complex. By adjusting the ratio of CO to H2 , we conducted the reaction at one atmosphere of gas with little change in yield. A diverse array of olefins and amines, including hetreroarylamines that do not react under more conventional conditions with a single catalyst, underwent hydroaminomethylation with this new system, and the pharmaceutical ibutilide was prepared in higher yield and under milder conditions than with a single catalyst.

Using hyperpolarised NMR and DFT to rationalise the unexpected hydrogenation of quinazoline to 3,4-dihydroquinazoline

PHIP and SABRE hyperpolarized NMR methods are used to follow the unexpected metal-catalysed hydrogenation of quinazoline (Qu) to 3,4-dihydroquinazoline as the sole product. A solution of [IrCl(IMes)(COD)] in dichloromethane reacts with H2 and Qu to form [IrCl(H)2(IMes)(Qu)2] (2). The addition of methanol then results in its conversion to [Ir(H)2(IMes)(Qu)3]Cl (3) which catalyses the hydrogenation reaction. Density functional theory calculations are used to rationalise a proposed outer sphere mechanism in which (3) converts to [IrCl(H)2(H2)(IMes)(Qu)2]Cl (4) and neutral [Ir(H)3(IMes)(Qu)2] (6), both of which are involved in the formation of 3,4-dihydroquinazoline via the stepwise transfer of H+ and H-, with H2 identified as the reductant. Successive ligand exchange in 3 results in the production of thermodynamically stable [Ir(H)2(IMes)(3,4-dihydroquinazoline)3]Cl (5).