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Synfacts 2025; 21(11): 1106
DOI: 10.1055/a-2703-1558
Metals in Synthesis

Turning Benzyl Amines into Benzyl Alcohols by Manganese-Catalyzed Deaminative Hydroxylation

Authors

Ji J, Wang S, Dai Z, Huo Y, Wang L, Zheng Q *, Tu T *. Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Fudan University, Shanghai, and Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, P. R. China
Bio-Inspired Manganese-Catalyzed Deaminative Hydroxylation of Benzyl Amines to Corresponding Alcohols.

Nat. Commun. 2025;
16: 6583
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61989-3
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Keywords

benzyl alcohols - benzyl amines - deaminative hydroxylation - manganese catalysis

Significance

Zheng, Tu and co-workers make use of methanol as both hydrogen donor and amino acceptor to accomplish the deaminative hydroxylation of benzyl amines. This transformation is catalyzed by a PNP manganese(I) pincer complex and involves a transamination borrowing-hydrogen process.


Comment

Using deuterated methanol, up to 90 % deuteration was observed at the benzylic position of the product. This result showed that methanol serves as the hydrogen donor in the catalytic cycle. Further mechanistic studies revealed that both the base and ligand are crucial for the reaction and that no product is formed in their absence.




Publication History

Article published online:
30 October 2025

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