N-Alkylation of Aqueous Ammonia with Alcohols Leading to Primary Amines Catalyzed by Water-Soluble N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes of Iridium

A new catalytic system for the N-monoalkylation of aqueous ammonia with a variety of alcohols was developed. Water-soluble dicationic complexes of iridium bearing N-heterocyclic carbene and diammine ligands exhibited high catalytic activity for this type of reaction on the basis of hydrogen-transfer processes without generating harmful or wasteful byproducts. Various primary amines were efficiently synthesized by using safe, inexpensive, and easily handled aqueous ammonia as a nitrogen source. For example, the reaction of 1-(4-methylphenyl)ethanol with aqueous ammonia in the presence of a water-soluble N-heterocyclic carbene complex of iridium at 150 degrees C for 40h gave 1-(4-methylphenyl)ethylamine in 83% yield.