The alkylation of amines by alcohols has been achieved using 0.5 mol % [Ru(p-cymene)Cl(2)](2) with the bidentate phosphines dppf or DPEphos as the catalyst. Primary amines have been converted into secondary amines, and secondary amines into tertiary amines, including the syntheses of Piribedil, Tripelennamine, and Chlorpheniramine. N-Heterocyclization reactions of primary amines are reported, as well as alkylation reactions of primary sulfonamides. Secondary alcohols require more forcing conditions than primary alcohols but are still effective alkylating agents in the presence of this catalyst.

Catalysts make alcohols more reactive by taking away hydrogen to create carbonyl compounds and then returning the hydrogen to the final products.

Application of microwave heating to the Borrowing Hydrogen strategy to form C-N bonds from alcohols and amines is presented, removing the need for solvent and reducing the reaction times while still yielding results comparable with those using thermal heating.

The synthesis of secondary amides from primary alcohols and amines has been developed using commercially available [Ru(p-cymene)Cl(2)](2) with bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb) as the catalyst.