Metal and organo-catalysed asymmetric hydroaminomethylation of styrenes

A new protocol that enables asymmetric hydroaminomethylation of styrenes to afford chiral amines has been developed. Catalysed by an Rh-phosphine species and a chiral phosphoric acid, styrenes are converted into β-chiral amines with good enantioselectivities under syngas in the presence of an amine and Hantzsch ester. The reaction involves two key steps, hydroformylation and reductive amination, with the former catalysed by the Rh species whilst the latter by the phosphoric acid.