title: A practical and benign synthesis of primary amines through ruthenium-catalyzed reduction of nitriles.
abstract: The catalytic hydrogenation of nitriles represents an atom-economic and valuable route to amines. In the present study, the ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogenation of various organic nitriles to give primary amines has been examined in detail. Straightforward ruthenium complexes modified by cheap and widely available triphenylphosphine allow for the efficient and general reduction of various aryl, alkyl, and heterocyclic nitriles. By using a practical in situ catalyst composed of [Ru(cod)(methylallyl(2))] and PPh(3), excellent yields and chemoselectivity were achieved. Moreover, the catalyst system displays broad functional group tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139 , USA.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Enthaler
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Junge
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Addis
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erre
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beller
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D002384:Catalysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010720:Phosphines / Q000737:chemistry; D011312:Pressure; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D009570:Nitriles; D010720:Phosphines; D012428:Ruthenium; C044646:phosphine