10.1002/adsc.202000499
The study presents a zinc-catalyzed N-alkylation reaction of aromatic amines using alcohols as alkylating agents in a ligand-free approach. The primary chemicals used include various aniline derivatives, aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic alcohols, and zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO3)2.6H2O) as the catalyst. The purpose of these chemicals is to achieve an efficient and environmentally benign method for synthesizing N-alkylated amines, which are valuable compounds in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and catalysis. The study demonstrates good to excellent yields of monoalkylated products and extends the application to the synthesis of a 2-phenylquinoline derivative and C-alkylation of ketones. Deuterium labeling experiments suggest the reaction proceeds via a borrowing hydrogen process.