Monoalkylation of primary amines and N-sulfinylamides

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Selective Mono N-Ethylation of Arylamines and Tandem Reduction/N-Ethylation of Nitroarenes Using Triethylamine and Formic Acid

The mono N-alkylation of arylamines using alkylamines as alkyl group donors has been scarcely investigated. In this work, we report the mono N-alkylation of several arylamines (52-95%) catalyzed by the complex ruthenium-triphos in the presence of Al(OTf)3. Moreover, the highly reductant ability of the catalyst system allows the tandem reduction/N-alkylation of nitrobenzenes in good yields (up to 80%). In addition, the catalyst can be recycled after three reaction cycles without loss of catalyst activity.

A Guide for Mono-Selective N-Methylation, N-Ethylation, and N-n-Propylation of Primary Amines, Amides, and Sulfonamides and Their Applicability in Late-Stage Modification

This review provides a comprehensive overview of mono-alkylation methodologies targeting crucial nitrogen moieties - amines, amides, and sulfonamides - found in organic building blocks and pharmaceuticals. Emphasizing the intersection of chemical precision with drug discovery, the central challenge addressed is achieving one-pot mono-selective short-chain N-alkylations (methylations, ethylations, and n-propylations), preventing undesired overalkylation. Additionally, sustainable, safe, and benign alternatives to traditional alkylating agents, including alcohols, carbon dioxide, carboxylic acids, nitriles, alkyl phosphates, quaternary ammonium salts, and alkyl carbonates, are explored. This review, categorized by the nature of the alkylating agent, aids researchers in selecting suitable methods for mono-selective N-alkylation.

Borrowing Hydrogen for Organic Synthesis

Borrowing hydrogen is a process that is used to diversify the synthetic utility of commodity alcohols. A catalyst first oxidizes an alcohol by removing hydrogen to form a reactive carbonyl compound. This intermediate can undergo a diverse range of subsequent transformations before the catalyst returns the "borrowed" hydrogen to liberate the product and regenerate the catalyst. In this way, alcohols may be used as alkylating agents whereby the sole byproduct of this one-pot reaction is water. In recent decades, significant advances have been made in this area, demonstrating many effective methods to access valuable products. This outlook highlights the diversity of metal and biocatalysts that are available for this approach, as well as the various transformations that can be performed, focusing on a selection of the most significant and recent advances. By succinctly describing and conveying the versatility of borrowing hydrogen chemistry, we anticipate its uptake will increase across a wider scientific audience, expanding opportunities for further development.

Trimethyl Borate-Catalyzed, Solvent-Free Reductive Amination

Solvent-free reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones with aliphatic and aromatic amines in high-to-excellent yields has been achieved with sub-stoichiometric trimethyl borate as promoter and ammonia borane as reductant.

Cyclometalated Iridium Complex-Catalyzed N-Alkylation of Amines with Alcohols via Borrowing Hydrogen in Aqueous Media

This paper develops a methodology for cyclometalated iridium complex-catalyzed N-alkylation of amines with alcohols via borrowing hydrogen in the aqueous phase. The cyclometalated iridium catalyst-mediated N-alkylation of amines with alcohols displays high activity (S/C up to 10,000 and yield up to 96%) and ratio of amine/imine (up to >99:1) in a broad range of substrates (up to 46 examples) using water as the green and eco-friendly solvent. Most importantly, this transformation is simple, efficient, and can be performed at a gram scale, showcasing its potential for industrially synthesizing N-alkylamine compounds.

Nickel-catalyzed borrowing hydrogen annulations: access to diversified N-heterocycles

An efficient nickel-catalyzed synthesis of diversified N-heterocycles via atom-economic borrowing hydrogen annulations of easily available alcohols and amines.

1,2-Diarylethylamine- and Ketamine-Based New Psychoactive Substances

While phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine remain the most well-studied and widely known dissociative drugs, a number of other agents have appeared since the late 1950s and early 1960s, when the pharmacological potential of this class was first realized. For example, hundreds of compounds have been pursued as part of legitimate research efforts to explore these agents. Some of these found their way out of the research labs and onto illicit markets of the 1960s and following decades as PCP analogs. Other "illicit analogs" apparently never appeared in the scientific literature prior to their existence on clandestine markets, thus originating as novel innovations in the minds of clandestine chemists and their colleagues. Like so much else in this world, new technologies changed this dynamic. In the 1990s individuals separated by vast geographical distances could now communicate nearly instantaneously with ease through the Internet. Some individuals used this newly found opportunity to discuss the chemistry and psychoactive effects of dissociative drugs as well as to collaborate on the design and development of novel dissociative compounds. Similar to modern pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers, these seekers tinkered with the structure of their leads pursuing goals such as improved duration of action, analgesic effects, and reduced toxicity. Whether all these goals were achieved for any individual compound remains to be seen, but their creations have been let out of the bag and are now materialized as defined compositions of matter. Moreover, these creations now exist not only in and of themselves but live on further as permutations into various novel analogs and derivatives. In some cases these compounds have made their way to academic labs where potential clinical applications have been identified. These compounds reached wider distribution when other individuals picked up on these discussions and began to market them as "research chemicals" or "legal highs". The result is a continuously evolving game that is being played between legislatures, law enforcement, and research chemical market players. Two structurally distinct classes that have appeared as dissociative-based new psychoactive substances (NPS) are the 1,2-diarylethylamines and β-keto-arylcyclohexylamines. Examples of the former include diphenidine and various analogs such as fluorolintane and N-ethyl-lanicemine, and examples of the latter are analogs of ketamine such as methoxetamine, deschloroketamine, and 2-fluoro-2-deschloroketamine. The subject of this chapter is the introduction to some of the dissociative NPS from these classes and their known pharmacology that have emerged on the market in recent years.

Efficient nickel-catalysed N-alkylation of amines with alcohols

A highly active and easy-to-prepare Ni based catalyst system is presented for the selective N-alkylation of amines with alcohols that is in situ generated from Ni(COD)₂ and KOH under ligand-free conditions.

Alkylation of Sulfonamides with Trichloroacetimidates under Thermal Conditions

An intermolecular alkylation of sulfonamides with trichloroacetimidates is reported. This transformation does not require an exogenous acid, base, or transition metal catalyst; instead the addition occurs in refluxing toluene without additives. The sulfonamide alkylation partner appears to be only limited by sterics, with unsubstituted sulfonamides providing better yields than more encumbered N-alkyl sulfonamides. The trichloroacetimidate alkylating agent must be a stable cation precursor for the substitution reaction to proceed under these conditions.

Heterogeneous catalysis for the direct synthesis of chemicals by borrowing hydrogen methodology

This review summarizes the recent examples of hydrogen transfer-type reactions using supported transition metal catalysts with special emphasis on the one-pot synthesis of chemicals by borrowing hydrogen methodology.

Alternative chelating agents: evaluation of the ready biodegradability and complexation properties

The ready biodegradability of four chelating agents, N,N'-(S,S)-bis[1-carboxy-2-(imidazol-4-yl)ethyl]ethylenediamine (BCIEE), N'-ethylenedi-L-cysteine (EC), N,N'-bis (4-imidazolymethyl)ethylenediamine (EMI) and 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid (PDA), was tested according to the OECD guideline for testing of chemicals. PDA proved to be a readily biodegradable substance. However, none of the other three compounds were degraded during the 28 days of the test. Chemical simulations were performed for the four compounds in order to understand their ability to complex with some metal ions (Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and discuss possible applications of these chelating agents. Two different conditions were simulated: (i) in the presence of the chelating agent and one metal ion, and (ii) in the simultaneous presence of the chelating agent and all metal ions with an excess of Ca. For those compounds that were revealed not to be readily biodegradable (BCIEE, EC and EMI), applications were evaluated where this property was not fundamental or even not required. Chemical simulations pointed out that possible applications for these chelating agents are: food fortification, food process, fertilizers, biocides, soil remediation and treatment of metal poisoning. Additionally, chemical simulations also predicted that PDA is an efficient chelating agent for Ca incrustations removal, detergents and for pulp metal ions removal process.

Catalyst-Free and Highly Selective N,N-Diallylation of Anilines in Aqueous Phase

A highly selective diallylation reaction of anilines with allyl bromide was achieved in aqueous alcohol solution in the presence of potassium carbonate and without the use of any catalyst. The reaction tolerates a wide range of functionalities, and various tertiary amines were obtained in the yield of up to 99% with complete conversion of anilines.

Potassium Boc-protected secondary aminomethyltrifluoroborates: synthesis and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions

Seven potassium Boc-protected secondary aminomethyltrifluoroborates were prepared in a standardized two-step process. The Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction was studied with this new class of nucleophiles, and a large variety of aryl and hetaryl chlorides provided the desired products in good to excellent yields, thereby allowing easy access to secondary aminomethyl substructures.

A novel asymmetric synthesis of cinacalcet hydrochloride

A novel route to asymmetric synthesis of cinacalcet hydrochloride by the application of (R)-tert-butanesulfinamide and regioselective N-alkylation of the naphthyl ethyl sulfinamide intermediate is described.