Polyamines, structurally related to putrescines and spermidines, are easily obtainable via hydroaminomethylation of methylallylphthalimide with primary or secondary amines. In addition, hydroaminomethylation of monoolefins with urea as a synthetic equivalent for ammonia, in contrast to other methods (e.g. the alkylation of ammonia or ammonium salts), allows selective synthesis of symmetric tertiary amines. By combining both methods dendrons and dendrimer cores are conveniently obtained.
