Reductive methylation of benzylamine with formaldehyde on Raney Ni and Pd/C catalysts

The synthesis of benzyl(dimethyl)amine by reductive methylation of benzylam ine with formaldehyde over Pd/C and Raney-Ni catalysts was studied. It was found that over the palladium catalyst, the major by-product is only toluen e, whereas over the nickel catalyst, small amounts of toluene are formed an d the other by-products originating from the double bond migration in an im ine intermediate. The observed differences suggest different interactions b etween the reactants and the palladium or nickel surface.