Reductive amination/cyclization of levulinic acid to pyrrolidones versus pyrrolidines by switching the catalyst from AlCl3 to RuCl3 under mild conditions

Abstract

Herein the reductive amination/cyclization of levulinic acid using phenylsilane was presented to selectively produce pyrrolidones versus pyrrolidines under mild conditions by switching the catalyst from AlCl₃ to RuCl₃. Using AlCl₃ as the catalyst, pyrrolidones were solely obtained at room temperature, while RuCl₃ as the catalyst selectively afforded pyrrolidines in high yields at 45 °C.