A new route to α,ω-diamines from hydrogenation of dicarboxylic acids and their derivatives in the presence of amines

A new and selective route for the synthesis of polymer precursors, primary diamines or N-substituted diamines, from dicarboxylic acids, diesters, diamides and diols using a Ru/triphos catalyst is reported. Excellent conversions and yields are obtained under optimised reaction conditions. The reactions worked very well using 1,4-dioxane as solvent, but the greener solvent, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, also gave very similar results. This method provides a potential route to converting waste biomass to value added materials. The reaction is proposed to go through both amide and aldehyde pathways.