title: Ruthenium-Catalyzed Methylation of Amines with Paraformaldehyde in Water under Mild Conditions.
abstract: Methylated amines are highly important for a variety of pharmaceutical and agrochemical applications. Existing routes for their formation result in the production of large amounts of waste or require high reaction temperatures, both of which impact the ecological and economical footprint of the methodologies. Herein, we report the ruthenium-catalyzed reductive methylation of a range of aliphatic amines, using paraformaldehyde as both substrate and hydrogen source, in combination with water. This reaction proceeds under mild aqueous reaction conditions. Additionally the use of a secondary phase for catalyst retention and recycling has been investigated with promising results.
authors.affiliation: Department Chemie, Universität zu Köln, Greinstrasse 4-6, 50939, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van der Waals
authors.affiliation: Department Chemie, Universität zu Köln, Greinstrasse 4-6, 50939, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Leo E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Heim
authors.affiliation: Department Chemie, Universität zu Köln, Greinstrasse 4-6, 50939, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gedig
authors.affiliation: Department Chemie, Universität zu Köln, Greinstrasse 4-6, 50939, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Herbrik
authors.affiliation: Department Chemie, Universität zu Köln, Greinstrasse 4-6, 50939, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vallazza
authors.affiliation: Department Chemie, Universität zu Köln, Greinstrasse 4-6, 50939, Cologne, Germany. martin.prechtl@uni-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Martin H G
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Prechtl
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000737:chemistry*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry*; D008745:Methylation; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D005557:Formaldehyde; D012428:Ruthenium; C003043:paraform
keywords: amination; homogeneous catalysis; methylation; paraformaldehyde; ruthenium