Alkyl Formates as Transfer Hydroalkylation Reagents and Their Use in the Conversion of Imines to Alkylamines

27 June 2022, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

Easily accessible via a simple esterification of alcohols with formic acid, alkyl formates are used as a novel class of transfer hydroalkylation reagents, CO2 acting as a traceless linker. As a proof-of-concept, their reactivity in the transfer hydroalkylation of imines is investigated, using a ruthenium-based catalyst and LiI as promoter to cleave the C−O σ–bond of the formate scaffold. Providing tertiary amines, the reaction displays a reverse and complementary regioselectivity compared to previously reported transfer hydroalkylation strategies.

Keywords

alkyl formates
decarboxylation
transfer hydroalkylation
ruthenium catalysis
imines

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