Reaction of Alkyl Sulfoxides and Phenylphosphinic Acid with Amines. Alternative Reagents for Secondary Amines N-Alkylation

Abstract

Phenylphosphinic acid and dialkylsulfoxides are found to be alternative reagents for respectively the reducing reagent (formic acid) and the alkylating reagent (aldehyde) currently used for secondary amines N-alkylation. Primary amines do not react with this system, but phenylglycine is decarboxilated to benzylamine.