Direct reductive amination of carbonyl compounds with primary/secondary amines using recyclable water-soluble FeII/EDTA complex as catalyst

Direct reductive amination of aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic carbonyl compounds with primary/secondary amines is reported with water-soluble Fe(II)/EDTA complex as a catalyst using low-pressure molecular hydrogen in a biphasic media. The catalyst is highly selective, recyclable and is an excellent replacement for expensive noble metal catalysts or stoichiometric reducing agents. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.