Direct Reductive Amination from Ketones, Aldehydes to Synthesize Amines Using N, S-Dual Doped Co/C Catalyst.

As a key intermediate in natural products and pharmaceutics, N-(R, R)-phenethyl-1-indane was directly prepared by one-pot reductive amination of 1-indanone and R-(+)-α-phenethylamine using abundant molecular hydrogen as a reductant. Compared with the traditional noble metal catalyst, the Co-VB1(1:2)/C-900 catalysts showed higher selectivity in this reaction, and generated the N-(R, R)-phenethyl-1-indane with high yield. The Co-VB1(1:2)/C-900 catalysts were prepared by the modification of thiamine hydrochloride (VB1) as nitrogen and sulfur sources. At the same time, the catalyst was reusable for several times. The synthesis of N-(R, R)-phenethyl-1-indane was cost-effective and atom-economical. The catalyst also presented moderate to good catalytic activities in reductive amination for a series substrate, ranging from aldehydes or ketones, to giving access to various valuable compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]