Highly enantioselective Pd-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of activated imines

J Org Chem. 2007 May 11;72(10):3729-34. doi: 10.1021/jo0700878. Epub 2007 Apr 20.

Abstract

Pd/bisphosphines complexes are highly effective catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of activated imines in trifluoroethanol. The asymmetric hydrogenation of N-diphenylphosphinyl ketimines 3 with Pd(CF3CO2)/(S)-SegPhos indicated 87-99% ee, and N-tosylimines 5 could gave 88-97% ee with Pd(CF3CO2)/(S)-SynPhos as a catalyst. Cyclic N-sulfonylimines 7 and 11 were hydrogenated to afford the useful chiral sultam derivatives in 79-93% ee, which are important organic synthetic intermediates and structural units of agricultural and pharmaceutical agents.