Enantioselective Synthesis of 2-Substituted Pyrrolidines via Intramolecular Reductive Amination

Catalyzed by the complex generated in situ from iridium and the chiral ferrocene ligand, tert -butyl (4-oxo-4-arylbutyl)carbamate substrates were deprotected and then reductively cyclised to form 2-substituted arylpyrrolidines in a one-pot manner, in which the intramolecular reductive amination was the key step. A range of chiral 2-substituted arylpyrrolidines were synthesised in up to 98% yield and 92% ee .