LETTER	Synlett 2007: 1455-1457   DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-980349
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Thiourea-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Aldimines
Zhiguo Zhang, Peter R. Schreiner*
Institut für Organische Chemie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, 35392 Giessen, Germany Fax: +49(641)9934309; e-Mail: prs@org.chemie.uni-giessen.de;
Received 20 February 2007

Abstract

The present letter reports on the thiourea-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of imines through hydrogen-bonding activation with Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridine as the hydrogen source. A ­variety of aromatic as well as aliphatic aldimines can be reduced to give the respective amines under acid- and metal-free reaction conditions.

Key words

Hantzsch dihydropyridine - hydrogen bonds - organo­catalysis - thiourea - transfer hydrogenation