Catalytic hydroamination

Article By:

Romero, Jan Antoinette C. Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Molander, Gary A. Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Last reviewed:2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB050720

Nitrogen-containing compounds are widespread in nature, are pharmacologically interesting compounds, and are used in the synthesis of fine chemicals. Because of their pervasiveness in the chemical industry, the selective generation of amines remains of fundamental importance to the synthetic organic chemist. Among the standard methods for their synthesis, N-alkylation of ammonia, reductive amination of aldehydes or ketones, reduction of amides, and aminations of olefins using stoichiometric promoters are the most common. Although these routes are well developed, they are often not implemented when large amounts of amines are needed. These reactions suffer from the production of vast amounts of by-products created during the process, the elimination of which is costly and environmentally unfriendly.

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