Alkaline-Metal-Catalyzed One-Pot Aminobenzylation of Aldehydes with Toluenes.

A novel and easily accessible MN(SiMe3)2 (M = Li or Na)/Cs2CO3 co-catalyzed benzylation of in situ generated N-(trimethylsilyl) aldimines with toluene derivatives has been successfully developed. The catalyst exhibits high chemoselectivity for deprotonation of toluenes at the benzylic position. The utility of this system is exemplified by the one-pot synthesis of a diverse array of bioactive 1,2-diarylethylamines with excellent efficiency and broad functional group tolerance.