Alkylation of Amines with Alcohols and Amines by a Single Catalyst under Mild Conditions

An efficient catalytic system for the alkylation of amines with either alcohols or amines under mild conditions has been developed, using cyclometallated iridium complexes as catalysts. The method has broad substrate scope, allowing for the synthesis of a diverse range of secondary and tertiary amines with good to excellent yields. By controlling the ratio of substrates, both mono- and bis-alkylated amines can be obtained with high selectivity. In particular, methanol can be used as the alkylating reagent, affording N-methylated products selectively. A strong solvent effect is observed for the reaction.