A novel aminomethylation reaction of gaseous alkanes with tert-methylamine N-oxides via C-H bond activation by copper(II) salts

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(95)05605-O

The Cu(OAc)2/CF3COOH (TFA) system catalyzes the aminomethylation of gaseous alkanes such as propane and ethane with trimethylamine N-oxide to give N,N-dimethylisobutylamine (1) and N,N-dimethylpropylamine (7), respectively.The corresponding trifluoroacetates are also formed as by-products from the reactions of methane and propane. Keywords: Copper acetate; Aminomethylation; Amine N-oxide; C-H bond activation; C-C bond formation; Alkane