Synthesis 2016; 48(18): 3127-3133
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1561647
paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Heterogeneous Catalytic Reductive Amination of Carbonyl Compounds with Ni-Al Alloy in Water as Solvent and Hydrogen Source

Christian Schäfer
a   Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, USA   Email: bela.torok@umb.edu
,
Bilal Nişanci
a   Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, USA   Email: bela.torok@umb.edu
b   Faculty of Science, Atatürk University, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey
,
Matthew P. Bere
a   Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, USA   Email: bela.torok@umb.edu
,
Arif Daştan
b   Faculty of Science, Atatürk University, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey
,
Béla Török*
a   Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, USA   Email: bela.torok@umb.edu
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 07 April 2016

Accepted after revision: 25 April 2016

Publication Date:
07 June 2016 (online)


These authors contributed equally to the work.

Abstract

The heterogeneous catalytic reductive amination of carbonyl compounds has been achieved by reactions of ammonium hydroxide and various amines with ketones and aldehydes. The process is based on the application of Raney type Ni-Al alloy in an aqueous medium. The reaction of the carbonyl compounds with the amine provided the corresponding Schiff bases that immediately underwent a reduction to provide primary and secondary amines as products. The controlled reaction of the Al content of the alloy with the solvent water generates hydrogen, and the in situ formed Raney Ni® serves as a hydrogenation catalyst. The method is a simple and efficient way of preparing a broad variety of primary and secondary amines.

Supporting Information