Catalyzed by the complex generated in situ from iridium and the chiral ferrocene ligand,
tert-butyl (4-oxo-4-arylbutyl)carbamate substrates were deprotected and then reductively
cyclised to form 2-substituted arylpyrrolidines in a one-pot manner, in which the
intramolecular reductive amination was the key step. A range of chiral 2-substituted
arylpyrrolidines were synthesised in up to 98% yield and 92% ee.
Key words
asymmetric catalysis - intramolecular reductive amination - iridium - chiral ligand
- arylpyrrolidine