An Iridium(I) N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complex Catalyzes Asymmetric Intramolecular Allylic Amination Reactions

A chiral iridium(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complex was reported for the first time as the catalyst in the highly enantioselective intramolecular allylic amination reaction. The current method provides facile access to biologically important enantioenriched indolopiperazinones and piperazinones in good yields (74-91%) and excellent enantioselectivities (92-99% ee). Preliminary mechanistic investigations reveal that the C-H activation occurs at the position ortho to the N-aryl group of the ligand.