Catalytic Reductive N Alkylation of Amines Using Carboxylic Acids

This collaboration will deliver a powerful new method for N-alkylation reactions of amines using readily available and bench stable carboxylic acids in place of aldehydes. The project will provide an excellent background in organosilicon chemistry and in the design and optimisation of homogeneous metal-catalysed reactions. Finally, the synthesis of APIs will provide excellent training in the construction of pharmaceutically relevant target molecules.

AIM: To develop process friendly catalytic reductive amination reactions of carboxylic acids and amines to afford higher alkylated amines. This will be achieved via the combination of a silane-mediated direct amidation reaction with catalytic reduction of the derived amide (Scheme 1).

ALIGNMENT WITH EPSRC RESEARCH AREAS. This collaboration is aligned with the EPSRC research areas of "catalysis" and "synthetic organic chemistry". The area of catalysis has been designated as a growth area by the EPSRC and this project clearly falls within the EPSRC definition of "preparation of novel or improved catalysts and the development of new catalytic processes". The project will deliver new catalytic methods for the synthesis of amines, which are of fundamental importance.