Ruthenium-Catalyzed Selective Mono -Ethylation of Arylamines and Tandem Reduction/-Ethylation of Nitroarenes Using Triethylamine and Formic Acid.

The mono -alkylation of arylamines using alkylamines as alkyl group donors has been scarcely investigated. In this work, we report the mono -alkylation of several arylamines (52-95%) catalyzed by the complex ruthenium-triphos in the presence of Al(OTf). Moreover, the highly reductant ability of the catalyst system allows the tandem reduction/-alkylation of nitrobenzenes in good yields (up to 80%).