Regioselective N-alkylation of 2-amino-azoles with alcohols for the synthesis of 2-N-(alkylamino)azoles catalyzed by a ruthenium complex bearing a functional ligand

•The regioslectivie N-alkylation of 2-amino-azoles with alcohols to 2-(N-alkylamino)zoles.•OH units in the ligand are crucial for catalytic activity of ruthenium complex.•The gram-scale synthesis of a biologically active molecule was presented.•To facilitate the progress of metal–ligand bifunctional catalysts for hydrogen autotransfer process.