Ketones, catalytic condensation with imines

We have previously discussed that keto-aldehydes react with anilines first at the aldehyde carbon to form the aldimine. Subsequent condensation with another aniline formed a bis-imine or enamino-imine. The aniline of the ketimine normally cyclizes on the aldimine (24 —> 26). Conversely, cyclization of the aldimine could be forced with minimal aniline migration to the ketimine using PPA (30 —> 31). The use of unsymmetrical ketones has not been thoroughly explored a few examples are cited below. One-pot enamine formation and cyclization occurred when aniline 48 was reacted with dione 49 in the presence of catalytic p-TsOH and heat. Imine formation occurred at the less-hindered ketone, and cyclization with attack on the reactive carbonyl was preferred. ... 

The N-alkylation of amines with alcohols [63] can also be carried out with Ir catalysts through a similar domino sequence reaction. In this case, the aldehyde/ketone resulting from oxidation is condensed with an amine to the corresponding imine, which is hydrogenated to the alkylated amine [63]. By way of example, the reaction of benzyl alcohol with aniline in toluene afforded benzylaniline in a 88% isolated yield by using catalytic amounts of [ lr(/z-Cl)Cp Cl 2]/K2C03. 

Condensation of heptamethyldisilazane 525 a (=424) with ketones or aldehydes such as benzaldehyde, in the presence of catalytic amounts of trimethylsilyl triflate 20, in CH2CI2 or C1(CH2)2C1, at room temperature or on gentle heating, gives imines such as 528 in nearly quantitative yield [102] (Scheme 5.33). 

Most enamines, unfortunately, are sensitive to hydrolysis. The parent enamine, iV,iV-dimethylvinylamine, has in fact been prepared [3], but appears to be unstable. Enamines of cyclic ketones and many aldehydes can readily be isolated, however [4-7]. The instability of enamines might at first appear to diminish the utility of enamines as nucleophiles, but actually this property can be viewed as an added benefit enamines can be readily and rapidly generated catalytically by using a suitable amine and a carbonyl compound. The condensation of aldehydes or ketones with amines initially affords an imine or iminium ion, which then rapidly loses a proton to afford the corresponding enamine (Scheme 1). 

Unsymmetrical secondary amines are readily prepared in good yields by the catalytic reduction of Schiff bases at moderate temperatures in high-or low-pressure equipment. Many examples have been cited. The intermediate imines are prepared from primary amines and aldehydes—very seldom from ketones—and may be used without isolation (cf. method 431). For the preparation of aliphatic amines, e.g., ethyl-w-propylamine and n-butylisoamylamine, a prereduced platinum oxide catalyst is preferred with alcohol as the solvent. Schiff bases from the condensation of aromatic aldehydes with either aromatic or aliphatic amines are more readily prepared and are reduced over a nickel catalyst. In this manner, a large number of N-alkylbenzylamines having halo, hydroxyl, or methoxyl groups on the nucleus have been made. Reductions by means of sodium and alcohol and lithium aluminum hydride have also been described,... 

The sequence begins by the initial condensation of the amine with the carbonyl component (Section 17-9) to produce the corresponding imine (for NH3 and primary amines) or iminium ion (secondary amines). Similar to the carbon-oxygen double bond in aldehydes and ketones, the carbon-nitrogen double bond in these intermediates is then reduced by simultaneous catalytic hydrogenation or by added special hydride reagents. 

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