N‐Alkylation of Amines with Alcohols Catalyzed by a Water‐Soluble Cp*Iridium Complex: An Efficient Method for the Synthesis of Amines in Aqueous Media

An efficient and environmentally benign catalytic system for the synthesis of various organic amines catalyzed by the water‐soluble and air‐stable (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)‐iridium‐ammine iod‐ ide complex, [Cp*Ir(NH 3 ) 3 ][I] 2 (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), has been developed. A wide variety of secondary and tertiary amines were synthesized by the N ‐alkylation reactions of theoretical equivalents of amines with alcohols in water under air without a base. The synthesis of cyclic amines was also achieved by the N ‐alkylation of benzylamine with diols. Furthermore, the recycle use of the present water‐soluble Cp*Ir catalyst was accomplished.