Synthesis of novel serotonergics and other N-alkylamines using simple reductive amination using catalytic hydrogenation with Pd/C

Formation of N-alkylated α-methyltryptamine derivatives (2) was accomplished by simple reductive amination of amine (1) with ketones using catalytic hydrogenation conditions (3 atm H2 and 10% Pd on carbon). This method was also applied to other primary and secondary amines using ketones and aldehydes.