Highly Efficient Heterogeneous Gold‐catalyzed Direct Synthesis of Tertiary and Secondary Amines from Alcohols and Urea

Abstract

Urea, the white gold: The efficient synthesis of tertiary and secondary amines is achieved by heterogeneous gold-catalyzed direct amination of stoichiometric alcohols with urea in good to excellent yields. Via a hydrogen autotransfer pathway, the reactions of primary alcohols with urea give tertiary amines exclusively, while secondary alcohols selectively afford secondary amines.