Asymmetric Allylic Amination with Ammonia Equivalents

Significance

Building on their extensive studies of asymmetric iridium-catalyzed allylic aminations, the authors reported a practical method to synthesize primary allylic amine precursors 3 and 6. The reaction makes use of easily handled amine salts and low catalyst loadings to obtain the products in high ee. Further, a direct enantioselective allylation with ammonia was reported for the first time with a metal catalyst. The reaction yielded the secondary amine 7, which is a useful precursor for the synthesis of C ₂-symmetric pyrrolidines.