Selective Iridium-Catalyzed Reductive Amination Inside Living Cells.

ABSTRACT: Given that amino groups are ubiquitous in bioactive molecules, abiotic routes to incorporate them into cellular species offer new opportunities to study and manipulate living systems. In the present work, we report the first biocompatible method to prepare 1°, 2°, or 3° amines selectively starting from an aldehyde and nitrogen precursor through iridium-catalyzed reductive amination. To prevent overalkylation, we developed a nontoxic self-immolative agent comprising 4-(1-aminoethyl)phenol that can condense with carbonyl groups and undergo 1,6-elimination upon reduction to the desired 1° amines. The use of an electron-poor half-sandwich Ir catalyst favored the formation of amine over alcohol products. To synthesize 2° or 3° amines, the aldehydes were combined with the appropriate 1° or 2° am

SUBMITTER: Jana RD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12374733 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature