Scalable synthesis of secondary and tertiary amines by heterogeneous Pt Sn/g Al2O3 catalyzed N alkylation of amines with alcohols
Abstract Synthesis of secondary and tertiary amines has been efficiently realized from the N alkylation of amines with alcohols by means of heterogeneous bimetallic Pt Sn/g Al 2 O 3 catalyst (0.5 wt Pt, molar ratio Pt:Sn 1:3) through a borrowing hydrogen strategy. The Pt Sn/g Al 2 O 3 catalyst has exhibited very high catalytic activity towards a wide range of amines and alcohols, and can be conveniently recycled without Pt metal leaching. The present protocol was applied for the synthesis of N phenylbenzylamine in 96% isolated yield from aniline and benzyl alcohol on a 2.1 kg scale of the substrates, demonstrating its potential applicability for higher order amine synthesis.