Advancing C–N Coupling Reactions Through Green Hydrogen Borrowing in Deep Eutectic Media

The advancement of sustainable catalytic methodologies stands as a central goal in modern green chemistry. Among these, the hydrogen borrowing strategy has gained significant attention for enabling the use of alcohols as alkylating agents through a catalytic sequence involving oxidation, condensation, and reduction steps, typically mediated by a suitable metal catalyst (Figure 1)12. Despite their synthetic value, these transformations often rely on scarce and costly transition metals and require harsh reaction conditions, which limit their environmental compatibility and industrial applicability. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs), composed of biodegradable and renewable components, are increasingly recognized as green and tunable media for both catalytic and stoichiometric processes. Their versatile physicochemical properties make them well-suited for promoting and modulating catalytic reactions?. This project aims to apply hydrogen borrowing methodologies for C-N bond formation, using alcohols and amines as in situ hydrogen donors, within DES-based systems. By employing selected DESs this research seeks to overcome the drawbacks of traditional approaches, improving substrate scope, reaction efficiency, and selectivity under milder, more sustainable conditions. Beyond minimizing environmental impact, this strategy offers the potential to unlock new chemical reactivity, paving the way for a more innovative and eco-conscious future in synthetic chemistry.