An expedient and novel strategy for reductive amination by employing H2O as both a hydrogen source and solvent via B2(OH)4/H2O systems

An efficient, convenient and mild Ru-catalyzed reductive amination reaction was developed by employing H2O as both hydrogen source and solvent via B-2(OH)(4)/H2O systems. The reaction proceeded smoothly under air at ambient temperature and exhibited excellent chemoselectivities toward unsaturated and heteroaromatic as well as aliphatic aldehydes. Interestingly, a-deuterated amines were also obtained expediently by employing D2O in our catalytic systems.