Kinetic Resolution to Simultaneously Access Both Primary and Secondary NH-Unprotected Chiral Amines via Ir-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reductive Amination.

This report describes a new kinetic resolution-asymmetric reductive amination strategy to collectively gain access to both primary and secondary chiral NH-unprotected amines. Catalyzed by the complex of iridium and bulky and tunable phosphoramidite ligands, various ketones and racemic primary amines could be smoothly converted to two different types of amine products. Bronsted acids as additives play triple roles, decreasing the inhibitory effect, promoting the formation of the imine intermediates, and guiding the reaction to proceed through "outer-sphere" H-addition along with the bulky ligand.