Convenient preparations of imines and symmetrical secondary amines possessing primary or secondary alkyl groups

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1991-26551

Hindered alkyl aldehydes react with benzotriazole and ammonia in dry ethanol or methanol to yield the corresponding bis[1-(benzotriazol-1-yl)alkyl]amines 2. The reaction of aryl aldehydes, however, yields 1-(benzotriazol-1-yl)-N-alkylidenealkylamines 3. The reactions of adducts 2 and 3 with lithium aluminum hydride furnishes dialkyl- and dibenzylamine derivatives 4. Although the reactions of 2 and 3 with organometallic reagents are not as general, in several cases the reactions of amines 2 with Grignard reagents yield 1-alkyl or aryl substituted N-alkylidenealkylamines 5. Similar reactions of amines 2 with phenyl lithium afford 1,1'-diphenyldialkylamines 7.