Synfacts 2011(1): 0069-0069  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1259166
Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis and Stereoselective Reactions
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Iron-Catalyzed Enantioselective Transfer Hydrogenation of Imines

Contributor(s): Mark Lautens, Stephen G. Newman
S. Zhou, S. Fleischer, K. Junge, S. Das, D. Addis, M. Beller*
Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse an der Universität Rostock, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
21 December 2010 (online)

Significance

The use of iron catalysts in asymmetric hydrogenation has great appeal as it is much less expensive than more traditional catalysts, such as palladium and rhodium (see Review below). Based on previous work on ketone transfer hydrogenation (Morris and co-workers Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 940), the authors explore iron catalysts for the enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of imines to produce chiral amines with excellent enantioselectivity.

Review: R. H. Morris Chem. Soc. Rev. 2009, 38, 2282-2291.