Direct Reductive Amination versus Hydrogenation of Intermediates –A Comparison

The direct reductive amination of acetophenone with benzylamine or piperidine was studied in comparison with the hydrogenation of possible intermediates like a corresponding imine or enamine. No common features in terms of productivity and stereocontrol (in the case of chiral catalysts) have been found for both processes. Hence evaluation of efficient, selective and enantioselective catalysts for direct reductive amination appears to be a separate task.