Synthesis of N,N'-dibenzylethylenediamine via palladium-carbon-catalysed reductive alkylation

Reductive alkylation of ethylenediamine with benzaldehyde and hydrogen in the presence of Pd-C has been investigated in order to optimize the synthesis of N,N'-dibenzylethylenediamine; the efficiency of the procedure has been improved by minimizing undesired competing reactions of cyclization and hydrogenolysis.