LAUSR

Reductive amination of glycolaldehyde (GA), the smallest sugar molecule and obtainable from biomass, creates a versatile platform for ethylamine products, potentially replacing current pathways via toxic ethylene oxide and dichloroethane. Given the high reactivity of α-OH carbonyls, the main challenge was control of selectivity in a cascade of parallel and consecutive reactions during reductive amination. The type of solvent and catalyst, preferably methanol and Pd, respectively, are key enabling parameters to achieve high product yields. A kinetic study on product intermediates accompanied with detailed product analysis (MS and NMR) suggested a general mechanistic scheme and validation with density functional theory calculations provided a rational understanding of the solvent effect in terms of energetics and kinetics. Primary alkanolamines (AA) such as 2-(dimethylamino)-ethanol are preferred products, and large excess of the amine reagent is not required to reach almost quantitative yields. Interesting...