Hydrogen-free reductive amination using iron pentacarbonyl as a reducing agent.

We developed solvent-free reductive amination without an external hydrogen source using iron pentacarbonyl as a reducing agent. Neither a catalyst nor any other additives were employed. Various types of substrates are suitable for the reaction, including those with low reactivity, e.g. benzophenone. Among others, the protocol tolerates bromo-, cyano-, benzyloxy-, pyrimidyl and styryl moieties.