Abstract:
An efficient, green and reliable method for the direct reductive amination of aldehydes was developed using an environmentally benign bentonite-gold nanohybrid catalyst. Use of this heterogeneous catalyst affords a variety of secondary amines in excellent yield under ambient reaction conditions in the presence of phenyldimethylsilane as mild hydride donor. The catalyst is recyclable, selective and is well applicable for the gram-scale preparation of secondary amines.