Ruthenium catalyzed amination cyclization of 1,2,4-butanetriol with primary amines: A borrowing hydrogen strategy for 3-pyrrolidinol synthesis

Highly valuable N-aryl 3-pyrrolidinols are prepared from cheap primary aryl amines and 1,2,4-butanetriol via a ruthenium catalyzed amination cyclization reaction. The two fold hydrogen autotransfer or borrowing hydrogen process of N-alkylation is extremely clean, efficient and compatible with Cl/Br substituted anilines.