One‐pot Reductive Amination of carbonyl Compounds with Nitro Compounds by Transfer Hydrogenation over Co–Nx as catalyst

Abstract A new method was developed for the synthesis of secondary amines through the one‐pot reductive amination of carbonyl compounds with nitro compounds using formic acid as the hydrogen donor over a heterogeneous non‐noble‐metal catalyst (Co‐N x /C‐800‐AT, generated by the pyrolysis of the cobalt phthalocyanine/silica composite at 800°C under a N 2 atmosphere and subsequent etching by HF). Both nitrogen and cobalt were of considerable importance in the transfer hydrogenation reactions with formic acid.