Palladium-catalyzed reductive coupling of phenols with anilines and amines: efficient conversion of phenolic lignin model monomers and analogues to cyclohexylamines

Phenols, being readily available from naturally abundant lignins, are important future feedstocks for the renewable production of fuels, chemicals, and energy. Herein, a highly efficient Pd-catalyzed direct coupling or phenolic lignin model monomers and analogues with anilines to give cyclohexytamines using cheap and safe sodium fonnate as hydrogen donor is described. A variety of secondary and tertiary substituted cyclohexylamines can be synthesized under convenient conditions in moderate to excellent yields