A Facile Iron‐Catalyzed Coupling of N‐Activated Benzyl Amines with 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds through C‐N Bond Cleavage

Abstract

Benzylation of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds using benzyl amines is considered to be a challenging endeavour. In the method presented here, FeCl3 is utilized as an efficient catalyst for the benzylation of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds through C−N bond cleavage of N‐activated benzyl amines. Several electron‐withdrawing groups were examined for activating the amino functionality of the benzyl amine. The method furnishes very good yields of the coupling products for a wide range of N‐activated benzyl amines and 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds. Inexpensiveness, easy availability and low toxicity of the catalyst in addition to mild reaction conditions impart great value to this method for its use in organic synthesis.