N-Alkylation of aniline derivatives by a bipyridyl metal–organic framework supported cobalt catalyst

Abstract

The N-alkylation of amines using alcohols represents a key transformation in the industrial synthesis of fine compounds and pharmaceutical intermediates. This reaction exemplifies a sustainable catalytic process, leveraging abundantly available alcohols derived from renewable resources while producing water as the sole by-product. Thus, the development of cost-effective heterogeneous base metal catalysts for N-alkylation of amines is highly desirable and demanding. This study introduces the synthesis and characterization of a mono 2,2′-bipyridine-cobalt catalyst supported by a Zr metal–organic framework (UiO-67), which demonstrates significant efficacy as a heterogeneous catalyst for the N-alkylation of aniline using benzyl alcohol. The designed catalyst exhibited excellent selectivity and yields in the transformation of various substituted anilines to their respective products. The findings underscore the potential of this cobalt-based MOF catalyst as an efficient and sustainable option for N-alkylation reactions, contributing to advancements in both fine chemical synthesis and pharmaceutical manufacturing.