The method is applicable to a broad spectrum of substances, paving the way for more sustainable chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The findings were published in Nature Communications, and the editors of the journal ranked it among the most significant articles in the field.
The hydrogenation of amides represents one of the most demanding processes in organic synthesis and is therefore often described as a “dream” reaction. It is widely employed in both research laboratories and industrial settings for the preparation of various types of amines, which serve as essential building blocks for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, dyes, polymers, and biomolecules. However, these reactions typically require high temperatures and pressures. Furthermore, it is often very difficult to achieve high selectivity, that is, the preparation of specific types of amines with a sufficiently high yield. Despite decades of intensive research, no universally applicable method for producing amines under mild conditions has yet been reported.
“In this paper, we have, for the first time, introduced a “green tool” for the reduction of primary amides to functionally and structurally diverse primary amines using molecular hydrogen as an accessible and environmentally friendly reducing agent. The development of a universal, selective, and practically applicable methodology for such a fundamental chemical transformation represents a major scientific milestone, which also underlies its recognition in a prestigious journal from the Nature family,” said one of the authors, Rajenahally V. Jagadeesh, affiliated with the Materials-Envi Lab (MEL) at the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies at VŠB-TUO and the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis in Rostock, Germany.
The key to success was the development of a new catalyst that accelerates and directs the reaction. “A specially designed ruthenium-based complex ensures a more efficient and selective course of this demanding reaction. It proceeds at significantly lower temperatures and pressures than previous methods, while ensuring high yields of the target amines. The technology thus allows for a significant reduction in energy costs and makes a wide range of chemical and pharmaceutical products more affordable,” explained another of the authors and head of the Materials-Envi Lab, Radek Zbořil, who also works at the CATRIN Institute at Palacký University in Olomouc.
Another significant advantage lies in the broad applicability of the method. “The approach opens up new possibilities for preparing primary amines under mild conditions. It is suitable for synthesizing amine compounds used in pharmaceuticals, polymer chemistry, and agrochemistry, as well as for the conversion of amide-based waste plastics. The technology, therefore, presents promising potential in the area of the circular economy as well,” added Vishakha Goyal from MEL, a member of the research team.
The collaborative research conducted by German and Czech researchers has the potential to impact the industrial production of amines, a market valued at tens of billions of dollars annually.
Text, photo: Martina Šaradínová