Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Acyclic Aromatic <i>N</i>-Aryl Imines Catalyzed by an Iridium Complex of (<i>S,S</i>)-1,2-Bis(<i>tert</i>-butylmethylphosphino)ethane

Abstract

An iridium(I) complex of (S,S)-1,2-bis(tert-butylmethylphosphino)ethane with tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate as the counterion catalyzes the hydrogenation of acyclic aromatic N-aryl imines under 1 atm of hydrogen pressure at room temperature to give the corresponding optically active secondary amines with up to 99% ee