A new palladium-mediated approach to 4-N-arylamino-1-butanols from peroxidic tetrahydrofuran and primary aromatic amines

Reaction of primary aromatic amines with peroxidic tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the presence of hydrogen and 10%, palladium on carbon catalyst results in THF ring opening to give 4-N-arylamino-1-butanols in a good yield. The reaction mechanism is believed to involve a free-radical sequence resulting in an imino alcohol subsequently reduced to product. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.