General Reductive Amination of Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines and Nitroaromatics under H2 by Recyclable Iridium Catalysts

Heterogeneous iridium catalysts were prepared and applied for the reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones with nitroaromatics and amines using H-2. The iridium catalysts were prepared by pyrolysis of ionic liquid 1-methyl-3-cyanomethylimidazoulium chloride ([MCNI]Cl) with iridium chloride (IrCl3) in activated carbons. Iridium particles were well dispersed and stable in the N-doped carbon materials from [MCNI]Cl with activated carbon. The Ir@NC(600-2h) catalyst was found to be highly active and selective for the reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones using H-2 and a variety of nitrobenzenes and amines were selectively converted into the corresponding secondary and tertiary amines. The Ir@NC(600-2h) catalyst can be reusable several times without evident deactivation.