One-pot reductive amination of aldehydes catalyzed by a hydrio-iridium(III) complex in aqueous medium

A combination of sodium tetrakis[3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate [NaBAr4F] and hydrio-iridium(III) complex efficiently catalyzed the one-pot reductive amination of aldehydes with various amines and ammonia in water under mild conditions in good to excellent yields. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.