Enantioselective Imine Reduction Catalyzed by Phosphenium Ions

J Am Chem Soc. 2019 Sep 11;141(36):14083-14088. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b07293. Epub 2019 Aug 27.

Abstract

The first use of phosphenium cations in asymmetric catalysis is reported. A diazaphosphenium triflate, prepared in two or three steps on a multigram scale from commercially available materials, catalyzes the hydroboration or hydrosilylation of cyclic imines with enantiomeric ratios of up to 97:3. Catalyst loadings are as low as 0.2 mol %. Twenty-two aryl/heteroaryl pyrrolidines and piperidines were prepared using this method. Imines containing functional groups such as thiophenes or pyridyl rings that can challenge transition-metal catalysts were reduced employing these systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't