The first example of room temperature non-noble metal homogeneous system catalyzed selective N-alkylation of anilines with alcohols by a bis-NHC manganese complex is presented. This system was applied to a large range of alcohols and anilines, including biologically relevant motifs and challenging methanol. Experimental and computational studies suggest an outer-sphere mechanism for this NHC–Mn system.

Through the strategy of combining bifunctional 2-hydroxypyridine and a thermally stable N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, an Ir-catalyzed N-monoalkylation reaction has been developed in aqueous media under base-free conditions. This reaction proceeds smoothly with high yields of various aromatic amines and sulfonamides with a wide range of primary alcohols. Experimental and computational studies revealed a metal–ligand cooperative mechanism and its thermal stability during the bifunctional catalysis in aqueous media.