Enantioselective reduction of N-alkyl ketimines with frustrated Lewis pair catalysis using chiral borenium ions†
Abstract
Enantioselective reduction of ketimines was demonstrated using chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-stabilised borenium ions in frustrated Lewis pair catalysis. High levels of enantioselectivity were achieved for substrates featuring secondary N-alkyl substituents. Comparative reactivity and mechanistic studies identify key determinants required to achieve useful enantioselectivity and represent a step forward in the further development of enantioselective FLP methodologies.
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