Deaminative Reductive Methylation of Alkylpyridinium Salts

Org Lett. 2021 Sep 17;23(18):7059-7063. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c02458. Epub 2021 Aug 31.

Abstract

Methyl groups can imbue valuable properties in organic molecules, often leading to enhanced bioactivity. To enable efficient installation of methyl groups on simple building blocks and in late-stage functionalization, a nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of secondary Katritzky alkylpyridinium salts with methyl iodide was developed. When coupled with formation of the pyridinium salt from an alkyl amine, this method allows amino groups to be readily transformed to methyl groups with broad functional group and heterocycle tolerance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amines / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Methylation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nickel / chemistry
  • Pyridinium Compounds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Amines
  • Pyridinium Compounds
  • Nickel