The default explanation for good to high diastereomeric excess when reducing N-chiral imines possessing only mediocre cis/trans-imine ratios (>15% cis-imine) has invariably been in situ cis-to-trans isomerization before reduction; but until now no study unequivocally supported this conclusion. The present study co-examines an alternative hypothesis, namely that some classes of cis-imines may hold conformations that erode the inherent facial bias of the chiral auxiliary, providing more of the trans-imine reduction product than would otherwise be expected. The ensuing experimental and computational (DFT) results favor the former, pre-existing, explanation.
Keywords: chiral amines; cis/trans isomerization; imine isomerization; imine reduction; reductive amination.