Direct reductive aminations with catalytic molybdenum dioxide dichloride and phenylsilane

A powerful direct reductive amination (DRA) method is developed, using catalytic MoO2Cl2 and phenylsilane (PhSiH3) as the reducing agent. The alkylation of a range of amines (pKa 0–7.8) with both an electron-deficient and two electron-rich-aldehydes is achieved in good to excellent yields. The novel employment of this DRA in alcoholic solvents significantly improves the reaction scope and excellent functional group selectivity is exhibited.