Construction of α-Alkylated Amines by Iridium Complex-Catalyzed One-Step Transfer Hydrogenation of C=C and C=N Bonds

Abstract Hydrogenation of C=C bond and reductive amination are important transformations utilized in chemistry. An environmentally friendly, efficient, and facile one-pot transfer hydrogenation of C=C bond of enones and reductive amination of C=N bond of imines are reported using iridium complex as catalysts and formic acid as hydrogen source in aqueous medium. In this catalytic system, a wide range of α-alkylated amines were obtained in excellent yields by one-pot transfer hydrogenation of C=C bond and reductive amination. The practical application of this protocol is characterized by gram-scale transformation.