Tackling N‐Alkyl Imines with 3d Metal Catalysis: Highly Enantioselective Iron‐Catalyzed Synthesis of α‐Chiral Amines

Abstract

A readily activated iron alkyl precatalyst effectively catalyzes the highly enantioselective hydroboration of N‐ alkyl imines. Employing a chiral bis(oxazolinylmethylidene)isoindoline pincer ligand, the asymmetric reduction of various acyclic N ‐alkyl imines provided the corresponding α‐chiral amines in excellent yields and with up to greater than 99% ee . The applicability of this base metal catalytic system was further demonstrated at the synthesis of the pharmaceuticals Fendiline and Tecalcet.