Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.130, No.40, 13208-13209, 2008
Asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic imines with an ionic Cp*Rh(III) catalyst
When associated with a noncoordinating bulky conunteranion, a cationic Cp*Rh(III)-diamine catalyst displayed excellent enantioselectivities in asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic imines, affording bioactive tetrahydroisoquinolines and tetrahydro-beta-carbolines frequently with 99% ee's.