Sustainable iron-catalyzed direct imine formation by acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols with amines

The Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling (ADC) of alcohols with amines is reported using a heterogeneous Fe-catalyst. The reaction operates under mild conditions with the liberation of di-hydrogen and water as the byproducts. The developed ADC strategy is simple, efficient, exhibits wide functional group tolerance and can be scaled up. The present catalytic approach possesses a dual role; acting as a catalyst as well as being magnetically separable. The sustainable reuse of a heterogeneous iron catalyst is also shown.