Table 1 Initial reaction developmenta.

From: Iridium-catalyzed direct asymmetric reductive amination utilizing primary alkyl amines as the N-sources

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Entry

ligand

Solvent

Additiveb

Yield (%)

ee (%)

1

L1

CH2Cl2

-

14

0

2

L1

PhMe

-

79

0

3

L1

EtOAc

-

97

-

4

L1

MeOH

-

98

22 (R)

5

L1

THF

-

97

2

6

L1

TFE

-

87

29 (S)

7

L2

TFE

-

70

18 (S)

8

L3

TFE

-

94

69 (S)

9

L4

TFE

-

80

86 (S)

10

L4

TFE

I2

90

81 (S)

11

L4

TFE

TsOH

95

72 (S)

12

L4

TFE

Et3N

95

71 (S)

13

L4

TFE

NaBF4

92

56 (S)

14

L4

TFE

FeCl3

88

89 (S)

15

L4

TFE

CsCl

78

86 (S)

16

L4

TFE/MeOAc

FeCl3

96

97 (S)

17c

L4

TFE/MeOAc

HCl

96

95 (S)

18d

L4

TFE/MeOAc

FeCl3

99

98 (S)

19e

L4

TFE/MeOAc

FeCl3

88

95 (S)

  1. TFE 2,2,2- trifluoroethanol, TsOH p-toluenesulfonic acid.
  2. aReaction conditions: [Ir]/L/1/2 = 1:2.1:100:100; 1 0.1 mmol, solvent 2 mL, r.t., 24 h. Yields and enantiomeric excesses were determined by chiral HPLC after the products were converted to the corresponding acetamides.
  3. bThe amount of the added additives was 10 mol%.
  4. cThe 3-phenylpropylamine hydrochloride salt (30 mol%) was used instead of FeCl3.
  5. dThe catalyst loading was 0.05 mol%. The reaction temperature was 40 oC. FeCl3 was 30 mol%.
  6. eThe catalyst loading was 0.02 mol%. The reaction temperature was 60 oC.  FeCl3 was 30 mol%.