LETTER	Synlett 2006: 841-844   DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-939052
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Thiourea-Catalyzed Direct Reductive Amination of Aldehydes
Dirk Menche*, Fatih Arikan
Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung mbH, Medizinische Chemie, Mascheroder Weg 1, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany Fax: +49(531)6181461; e-Mail: dme05@gbf.de;
Received 20 January 2006

Abstract

A hydrogen-bond-catalyzed direct reductive amination of aldehydes is reported. The acid- and metal-free process uses thiourea as organocatalyst and the Hantzsch ester for transfer-hydrogenation and allows for the high-yielding synthesis of diverse amines.

Key words

amines - reductions - organocatalysis - hydrogen bonds - aminations