Sustainable and Affordable Synthesis of (Deuterated) N-Methyl/Ethyl Amines from Nitroarenes.

The sustainable and affordable synthesis of (deuterated) N-methyl/ethyl amines directly from nitroarenes is disclosed. The reaction is catalyzed by a single-site manganese catalyst and involves tandem dehydrogenation, transfer hydrogenation, and borrowing hydrogenation. This catalytic protocol is highly selective and provides a facile method for the large-scale synthesis of a series of N-CH3/N-CD3 aniline derivatives with excellent functional group tolerance.