Homogeneous Catalyzed Generation of Formamides and Amines with Syngas as a Basic Building Block

N‐Alkylformamides, polymeric polyamines, and tertiary aliphatic and araliphatic amines, have been prepared using ruthenium homogeneous catalysis and synthesis gas as a basic building block. N,N‐dimethylformamide, for example, has been generated by a new synthesis route, directly from syngas plus ammonia, using the concept of ruthenium “melt” catalysis. Polymeric polyamine derivatives of 1,2‐polybutadienes have been prepared via the aminomethylation reaction using a two‐phase medium to facilitate product‐catalyst separation.