New P,N-Ferrocenyl Ligands for the Asymmetric Ir-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Imines

The Ir-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of various N-(3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy)phenylimines was performed under mild conditions in the presence of new P,N-ferrocenyl iridium complexes leading to (R)-N-(3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy)phenylamines in high yields and enantioselectivities (up to 99%). These chiral aryl amines can be readily deprotected using Ce(NH₄)₂(NO₃)₆.