Benzimidazolium sulfonate ligand precursors and application in ruthenium-catalyzed aromatic amine alkylation with alcohols

•New benzimidazolium sulfonate salts•In situ generated catalyst from [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 and benzimidazolium sulfonate•N-alkylation of aromatic amines with alcohols via hydrogen borrowing process

New benzimidazolium sulfonate salts have been prepared and fully characterized. They have been associated in situ with [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 to generate efficient catalytic systems operating at 120 °C under neat conditions in the presence of potassium tert-butylate for selective N-alkylation of primary aromatic amines into secondary amines.

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