1,2-reduction of alpha,beta-unsaturated hydrazones using dimethylamine-borane/p-toluenesulfonic acid: an easy route to allyl hydrazines

alpha,beta-Unsaturated hydrazones can be easily converted into N-allyl hydrazines by reaction with dimethylamine-borane/p-toluenesulfonic acid under mild reaction conditions. The reduction works well for N'-allyhydrazides but N'-allyl-N,N-dimethylhydrazines are rapidly reoxidised by air and so need to be manipulated under an inert atmosphere prior to M-acylation. Competitive conjugate reduction can also be observed and the regioselectivity of the dimethylamine-borane attack is determined by steric and/or electronic factors. The procedure is also effective for the C=N reduction of unconjugated hydrazones. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.