Deoxygenative Hydrogenation of Amides Catalyzed by a Well-Defined Iridium Pincer Complex

The iridium-catalyzed highly chemoselective hydrogenation of amides to amines has been developed. Using a well-defined iridium catalyst bearing a P(O)C(O)P pincer ligand combined with B(C6F5)3, the C–O cleavage products are formed under mild reaction conditions. The reaction provides a new method for the preparation of amines from amides in good yield with high selectivity.