Catalytic Leuckart-Wallach-type reductive amination of ketones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo0203701

A Cp*Rh(III) complex catalyzes reductive amination of ketones using HCOONH4 at 50-70°C to give the corresponding primary amines in high yields. The reaction is clean and operationally simple and proceeds at a lower temperature and with higher chemoselectivity than the original Leuckart-Wallach reaction. The new method has been applied to the synthesis of α-amino acids directly from α-keto acids.