α-Amination of ketone derivatives has been a key area of research due to the importance of α-amino ketones in pharmaceutical and biologically active compounds. It has been achieved via both metal-mediated and metal-free catalysis, which has been reported by multiple laboratories. However, current methods mostly involve the formation of α-halogenated ketone or enolates, or they often depend on electrophilic nitrogen sources. And despite their geological abundance, low monetary and environmental costs, first-row transition metals such as iron have not been fully developed in terms of their role in facilitating α-amination. This research is focused on iron-catalyzed α-amination under oxidative conditions. Primary and secondary sulfonamides were coupled to the α-position of the deoxybenzoin carbonyl without prior functionalization of either coupling partner. Current research is focused on increasing the percent yield through modifying the experimental setup, testing the scope of the reaction using ketones and sulfonamides either commercially available or synthesized in the laboratory, and studying the reaction mechanism.

Iron-catalyzed oxidative alpha-amination of ketones

ACS Spring 2022

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