Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Stable NH Imines for the Synthesis of Enantiopure α-Chiral Primary Amines

Although it offers a direct route to access synthetically valuableα-chiral primary amines,asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of NH imines has been rarely studied,due in large part to the inaccessibility and instability of NH imines.Herein,we report a Rh-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of a kind of novel and stable NH imines which are prepared via condensation of easily available sulfonylated 2'-aminoacetophenones with NH3 in methanol.With this method,enantioenriched chiral 2-(1-aminoalkyl)anilines,which are privileged pharmacore groups,have been synthesized with good functional group compatibility,and with up to 99%ee.A gram-scale reaction using 0.2 mol%of catalyst has been successfully performed to highlight the practicality.Furthermore,the products can be derivatized into enantiopure bioactive molecules as well as chiral tridentate ligands for metal catalysis.