Abstract:
The asymmetric reduction of N-aryl imines to yield chiral amines with enantiomeric excesses above 90% was achieved. Ethylenebis(eta5-tetrahydroindenyl)titanium difluoride ((EBTHI)TiF2, 1) was employed as the precatalyst with polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) as the stoichiometric reducing agent. A variety of N-aryl imines derived from nonaromatic ketones were reduced with high ee.