A modified Leuckart reaction allowing formamides to act as both the nitrogen donor and reducing agent is described. Water at subcritical temperatures is used for solvation and catalysis. Optimal time and temperature for the conversion of hexanal and DMF to N,N-dimethylhexamine was studied in detail. Typically, the yield of aldehyde recovered is low, concluding that side reactions are occurring. The competing side reaction is suspected to be the self aldol condensation of hexanal. The products of the side reactions are compared, by means of GC and GC-MS, to hexanal aldol products synthesized traditionally under basic conditions.

Further investigations of a green amination of aldehydes in subcritical water

239th National Meeting (2010)

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