Supported nano-gold-catalyzed N-formylation of amines with paraformaldehyde in water under ambient conditions

A simple and efficient Au/Al2O3 catalyst was prepared by the co-precipitation method for the oxidative N-formylation of amines with paraformaldehyde. Under the optimized reaction conditions, excellent amine conversion and N-formamide selectivity can be obtained with up to 97% yield with water as the solvent under ambient conditions. This catalyst tolerated a wide range of primary amines and second amines, and it can be reused for at least five runs without obvious deactivation.