Direct synthesis of polyamides via catalytic dehydrogenation of diols and diamines

We report a direct synthesis of polyamides via catalytic dehydrogenation of diols and diamines. A PNN pincer ruthenium complex, the Milstein catalyst, was used for this reaction and polyamides with number average molecular weight from ∼10 to 30 kDa could be obtained from a wide variety of diols and diamines bearing aliphatic or aromatic, linear or cyclic spacers. Because of the high catalytic selectivity of primary amine over secondary amine, polyamines could be conveniently incorporated into linear polyamides without tedious protection/deprotection steps. Compared with conventional condensation method, this catalytic system avoids the requirement of stoichiometric preactivation or in situ activation reagents and provides a much cleaner process with high atomic economy.