Gold and Silver-Catalyzed Reductive Amination of Aromatic Carboxylic Acids to Benzylic Amines

The reductive amination of benzoic acid and its derivatives would be an effective addition to current synthesis methods for benzylamine. However, with technology it is very difficult keep the aromaticity intact when starting from acid, salt wastes are often generated in process. Here, we report a heterogeneous catalytic system such amination, requiring solely H2 NH3 as reactants. Ag/TiO2 or Au/TiO2 catalysts can used multiple times, little noble metal required, only 0.025 mol % Au. bifunctional: support catalyzes dehydration both ammonium carboxylate amide nitrile, while sites at metal-support interface promote hydrogenation situ nitrile. Yields up 92% benzylamine were obtained.