Optimisation of the reaction conditions. Reaction conditions: benzylamine (1a, 2.0 mmol), phenylboronic acid (2a, 0.5 mmol), isoamyl nitrite (2.5 mmol), sodium carbonate (0.5 mmol), chloroform (1.25 mL), 60 °C, 24 h.

Entry	Deviation from standard conditions	Yielda [%]
1	No deviation	80 (70)b
2	No iAmONO	0
3	No base	72
4	Pinacol ester instead of phenylboronic acid	0
5	t BuONO instead of iAmONO	23
6	1 equiv. of boric acid (B(OH)3)	70

^aGC yield of the crude reaction mixture using n-dodecane as an internal standard.

^bIsolated yield.