A novel salt-free ruthenium-catalyzed alkylation of aryl amines

The alkylation of aryl amines using cyclic amines such as pyrrolidine proceeds via borrowing hydrogen methodology in the presence of 1 mol % Shvo catalyst. During the reaction multiple carbon-nitrogen cleavage and formation occurred. This novel reaction sequence leads to N-aryl-pyrrolidines and -piperidines. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.