Allylic Amines via Iridium-Catalyzed C-C Bond-Forming Hydrogenation

Significance

The reported protocol allows a direct catalytic vinylation of sulfonylimines by internal alkynes without use of preformed organometallic reagents. Non-symmetrical alkynes afford excellent regiocontrol, and in all cases high stereo­selectivity is observed. The reaction can be applied to a broad variety of imines. The resultant sulfonamides can be easily cleaved to trisubstituted allylic amines, which are useful synthetic intermediates.