Ruthenium-catalyzed selective imine synthesis from nitriles and secondary alcohols under hydrogen acceptor- and base-free conditions

Abstract

We report a method for the selective synthesis of imines from nitriles and secondary alcohols using a hydrogen-transfer strategy. The imine bond is efficiently formed between the nitrogen atom of nitrile and the α-carbon of secondary alcohol, catalyzed by a ruthenium dihydride complex with pyridine as a stabilizing ligand.