Direct electrochemical reductive amination between aldehydes and amines with a H/D-donor solvent
Huanliang Hong, Zirong Zou, Gen Quan Liang, Suyun Pu, Jinhui Hu, Lu Chen, Zhongzhi Zhu, Yibiao Li, Yubing Huang
Abstract
A novel electrochemical synthesis protocol has been achieved for reductive amination between aldehydes and amines in undivided cells at room temperature. Under metal-free and external-reductant-free electrolysis conditions, various important secondary amine products are obtained in moderate-to-high yields. Deuterium-labeling experiments have demonstrated that low-toxicity DMSO acts both as a solvent and a H-donor in the reaction. On this basis, various deuterium-labeled products with good-to-excellent D-incorporation have been synthesized by using DMSO-d6 as a solvent. Furthermore, a molecule with GR-antagonistic activity has been synthesized through further sulfonylation.