Development of one-pot benzylic amination reactions of azine N-oxides

An efficient one-pot synthetic methodology has been developed for the benzylic amination reactions of methyl-substituted azine N-oxides that operate under mild conditions. The reaction was found to tolerate quinoline and isoquinoline N-oxides with electron donating and withdrawing substituents as the electrophilic reaction partners as well as a broad range of nucleophilic primary, secondary and aromatic amines, affording the benzylic amination products in up to 82% yield. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.