Novel synthesis of N-alkyl amines from tandem coupling of either methylamine or nitroalkane with aldehyde.

A novel tandem strategy for coupling of either methylamine or nitroalkane with aldehyde has been developed. This is the first demonstration that methylamine or nitroalkane is used as a methylation reagent, fabricating N-alkyl amines. The active Pt NWs allow for the selective preparation of a series of N-alkyl amines with good to excellent yields under mild and environmentally friendly conditions.