Synthesis of secondary amines by reductive amination of aldehydes with nitroarenes over supported copper catalysts in a flow reactor

Supported copper catalysts were investigated for the one-pot reductive amination of aldehydes with nitroarenes in a continuous flow reactor. This process is considered advantageous compared to current traditional methods, which present several drawbacks, such as toxicity of reducing or alkylation agent, lack of monoalkylation selectivity and large amounts of waste produced. Various secondary amines were synthesized in good to excellent yields in the reactions of aliphatic aldehydes with nitroarenes using molecular hydrogen as a reducing agent. It was found that the yield of secondary amine depends on the rate of formation of intermediate imine.