A Convenient Synthesis of Primary Amines Using Sodium Diformylamide as A Modified Gabriel Reagent

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1990-26805

Sodium diformylamide (1) was used as a convenient substitute for phthalimide in the Gabriel synthesis of primary amines.Reagent 1 undergoes smooth N-alkylation with alkyl halides or p-toluenesulfonates 2 in acetonitrile or dimethylformamide to give the corresponding N,N-diformylalkylamines 3 in good yields, except with alkylating agents which are susceptible to base-catalyzed elimination.The formyl group of 3 can be easily removed by hydrochloric acid to give the corresponding alkylamine hydrochlorides 5 or free alkylamines 4.