Domino Hydrogenation-Reductive Amination of Phenols, a Simple Process To Access Substituted Cyclohexylamines.

Phenols can be efficiently reduced by sodium formate and Pd/C as the catalyst in water and in the presence of amines to give the corresponding cyclohexylamines. This reaction works at rt for 12 h or at 60 °C under microwave dielectric heating for 20 min. With the exception of aniline, primary, secondary amines, amino alcohols, and even amino acids can be used as nucleophiles.