Recent advances on transition-metal-catalysed asymmetric reductive amination

Transition-metal-catalysed asymmetric reductive amination (ARA) represents one of the most straightforward methods to access chiral amines, which converts easily accessible carbonyl compounds (ketones or their derivatives) and versatile ammonia or amines into drug-relevant chiral amines or N-heterocycles in one pot in the presence of a reducing agent and a chiral metal catalyst. The focus of this review is mainly on the progress of homogeneous transition-metal-catalysed ARA reactions with H-2 or other hydride sources achieved in the last several years. In addition, the current challenges and potential of this field have been discussed as well.

Automated summary

Transition-metal-catalysed asymmetric reductive amination is a direct method for accessing chiral amines, converting carbonyl compounds and ammonia or amines into drug-relevant compounds in one pot. Recent progress has been made in homogeneous transition-metal-catalysed ARA reactions with H-2 or other hydride sources, but challenges and potential still exist in this field.