Evolution of chiral Lewis basic N-formamide as highly effective organocatalyst for asymmetric reduction of both ketones and ketimines with an unprecedented substrate scope

L-Pipecolinic acid derived Lewis basic N-formamide 5e has been developed as a first highly effective catalyst for the asymmetric reduction of aromatic and aliphatic ketones as well as aromatic and aliphatic ketimines in good to high enantioselectivity.