Efficient enantioselective hydrogenation of arylimines using aminophosphine-oxazoline iridium catalysts

The preparation and characterization of cationic iridium complexes bearing chiral aminophosphine-oxazoline auxiliaries of general formula [Ir(COD)L*]X [X: PF6 and B(Ar-F)(4)] is reported. These complexes have been applied to the asymmetric hydrogenation of two imines: N-(phenylethylidene)aniline S1 and N-(phenylethylidene)benzylamine S2 providing the corresponding chiral amines in up to 90% and 82% ee, respectively. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.