Methylation of secondary amines with dialkyl carbonates and hydrosilanes catalysed by iron complexes

Abstract

Methylation of secondary amines was achieved using dimethyl carbonate or diethyl carbonate as the C₁ source under the catalysis of well-defined half-sandwich iron complexes bearing an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions in the presence of hydrosilanes as the reductants, and the amines were obtained with good to excellent isolated yields.