A Facile Iron-Catalyzed Coupling of N-Activated Benzyl Amines with 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds through C-N Bond Cleavage

Benzylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds using benzyl amines is considered to be a challenging endeavour. In the method presented here, FeCl3 is utilized as an efficient catalyst for the benzylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds through C-N bond cleavage of N-activated benzyl amines. Several electron-withdrawing groups were examined for activating the amino functionality of the benzyl amine. The method furnishes very good yields of the coupling products for a wide range of N-activated benzyl amines and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. Inexpensiveness, easy availability and low toxicity of the catalyst in addition to mild reaction conditions impart great value to this method for its use in organic synthesis.