Transamination of Aromatic Aldehydes to Primary Arylmethylamines

In the presence of 2-amino-2-phenylpropanoate salt (2a or 2e) as the amine source, aromatic aldehydes underwent decarboxylative transamination under very mild conditions to produce a variety of arylmethylamines in 44-99% yields. The work has provided an efficient new method for the synthesis of primary arylmethylamines.