Manganese-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Aldimines

The reduction of imines to amines via transfer hydrogenation was achieved promoted by phosphine-free manganese(I) catalyst. Using isopropanol as reductant, in the presence of tBuOK (4mol%) and manganese complex [Mn(CO)(3)Br(kappa N-2,N-PyCH2NH2)] (2mol%), a large variety of aldimines (30 examples) were typically reduced in 3hours at 80 degrees C with good to excellent yield.