Amine and Carbonyl Precursors

Reductive alkylations have been carried out successfully with compounds that are not carbonyls or amines, but which are transformed during the hydrogenation to suitable functions. Azides, azo, hydrazo, nitro and nitroso compounds, oximes, pyridines, and hydroxylamines serve as amines phenols, acetals, ketals, or hydrazones serve as carbonyls 6,7,8,9,12,17,24,41,42,58). Alkylations using masked functions have been successful at times when use of unmasked functions have failed (2). In a synthesis leading to methoxatin, a key 

Step involved a ring closure between a hydrazone and a nitro function (23). 

Reductive alkylation has been used to prepare a-amino acids suitable for lactam formation and further elaboration. In a single step a carbobenzyloxy group was removed, and alkylation with glyoxylic acid hydrate was achieved (18). 

Cyclohexanones may serve as precursors to aromatic amines in a reductive alkylation, the source of hydrogen being aromatization of the cyclohexanone (66). In a variation, an aromatic nitro compound acts as both an amine precursor and a hydrogen acceptor (64). 

Alcohols also may serve as carbonyl precursors. The reaction with aliphatic alcohols is thought to go through a carbonyl intermediate, but since no hydrogen is actually consumed, the reaction appears to be an amination, as it 

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