NiH-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydroarylation of N-Acyl Enamines: Practical Access to Chiral Benzylamines

The enantio- and regioselective reductive hydroarylation of N-acyl enamines has been achieved with a NiH catalyst and a chiral bis-imidazoline ligand. A broad range of structurally diverse, enantioenriched benzylamines, a moiety found in many pharmacologically active molecules, have been synthesized efficiently under mild, operationally simple reaction conditions.