Selective Hydrogenation of Nitriles to Primary Amines Catalyzed by a Cobalt Pincer Complex

J Am Chem Soc. 2015 Jul 22;137(28):8888-91. doi: 10.1021/jacs.5b04879. Epub 2015 Jul 10.

Abstract

The catalytic hydrogenation of nitriles to primary amines represents an atom-efficient and environmentally benign reduction methodology in organic chemistry. This has been accomplished in recent years mainly with precious-metal-based catalysts, with a single exception. Here we report the first homogeneous Co-catalyzed hydrogenation of nitriles to primary amines. Several (hetero)aromatic, benzylic, and aliphatic nitriles undergo hydrogenation to the corresponding primary amines in good to excellent yields under the reaction conditions.