Mono-N-methylation of anilines with methanol catalyzed by a manganese pincer-complex

摘要: Abstract The selective mono- N -methylation of anilines derivatives was achieved under mild conditions using inexpensive methanol as C1 source. Under hydrogen borrowing conditions, a tridentate PN 3 P manganese pre-catalyst (5 mol%), catalytic amount base (20 mol%), for 24 h at 120 °C, large variety methylated in good to excellent yield. Mechanistic investigations allowed us isolate and characterize by X-ray diffraction studies de-aromatized intermediate.