Manganese‐catalyzed Efficient Synthesis of N‐heterocycles and Aminoketones Using Glycerol as a C3 Synthon

Abstract

Glycerol is one of the important biomass‐derived feedstocks and the high‐value utilizations of glycerol have attracted much attentions in recent years. Herein, we report a manganese catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of glycerol with amines for the synthesis of substituted 2‐methylquinoxalines, 2‐ethylbenzimidazoles, and α‐aminoketones without any external oxidant. In these reactions, NHC‐based pincer manganese complex featuring a pyridine backbone displayed high catalytic activity and selectivity, in which hydrogen and water were produced as the only by‐products using glycerol as a C3 synthon.