An efficient and versatile iron phthalocyanine catalyzed method has been developed for N-alkylation of various amines with alcohols. Readily available alcohols were used as alkylating agents for direct N-alkylation of aminobenzothiazoles, aminopyridines and aminopyrimidines. N-Alkylation of ortho-substituted anilines (–NH2, –SH and –OH) led to the synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazoles, benzothiazoles and benzoxazoles in one pot.
