Abstract
An efficient zinc-catalyzed N-alkylation reaction of aromatic amines was achieved using aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic alcohols as the alkylating reagent. A variety of aniline derivatives, including heteroaromatic amines, underwent the N-alkylation reaction and furnished the corresponding monoalkylated products in good to excellent yields. The application of the reaction is also further demonstrated by the synthesis of a 2-phenylquinoline derivative from acetophenone and 2-aminobenzyl alcohol. Deuterium labeling experiments show that the reaction proceeds via a borrowing hydrogen process. (Figure presented.).