Methylation of amines, nitrobenzenes and aromatic nitriles with carbon dioxide and molecular hydrogen

CO2/H-2 was successfully employed in alkylation reactions by performing CO2 reduction and amine N-methylation in one-pot. In the presence of a simple CuAlOx catalyst, N-methyl or N,N-dimethyl amines with different structures can be selectively synthesized with up to 96% yields by applying amine, nitrobenzene and nitrile as starting materials.