Cobalt‐Catalyzed Green Alkylations of Anilines with Tetrahydrofurans

The use of bio‐renewable resources as starting materials and reagents in synthetic chemistry is an important area for sustainable development. The use of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran (2‐MeTHF) is reported, which can be obtained from lignocellulosic biomass, as potential alkylating agents for anilines. The developed N‐alkylation process is catalyzed by the readily available cobalt salts and employs industrially available syngas as a reducing agent. The reported approach allows for the green and cost‐effective production of N‐alkylanilines from readily available feedstocks.