A conceptually new and straightforward method for the one-pot transformation of alcohols into amines

A conceptually new amination method of alcohols has been developed using alpha-hydroxy esters as substrates and N-phenyl bis-trifluoromethanesulfonimide (PhNTf2) as a test reagent. Playing two roles at once, PhNTf2 activates the hydroxyl group as a highly reactive triflate intermediate and introduces the amino functionality through an in situ nucleophilic substitution by the anionic residue PhTfN-. Two complementary procedures (methods A and B herein) have been developed, the latter permitting reaction of substrates with unstable alcoxides.