A practical synthesis of N,N-dimethyl-(6-arylpyrid-2-yl)alkylamines

Described is a multigram synthesis of pyridyl amine ligands, which are being studied for their potential use in commercial processes. A practical scale-up was hindered by benzotriazole byproducts of a Grignard addition. With an improved purification to remove these byproducts and a strategic re-ordering of synthetic steps, an array of N,N-dimethyl-(6-arylpyrid-2-yl)alkylamines was made efficiently on large scales.