Synthesis of N-methylated amines from acyl azides using methanol.

The transformation of acyl azide derivatives into N-methylamines was developed using methanol as the C1 source via the one-pot Curtius rearrangement and borrowing hydrogen methodology. Following this protocol, various functionalised N-methylated amines were synthesized using the (NNN)Ru(ii) complex from carboxylic acids via an acyl azide intermediate. Several kinetic studies and DFT calculations were carried out to support the mechanism and also to determine the role of the Ru(ii) complex and base in this transformation.