Intermolecular, catalytic asymmetric hydroamination of bicyclic alkenes and dienes in high yield and enantioselectivity

A set of catalytic, intermolecular hydroaminations of strained bicyclic olefins and dienes are reported that occur in both high yield and high enantioselectivity. These reactions occur with a catalyst generated from [Ir(cyclooctene)Cl]2, sterically hindered and electron-rich derivatives of the Segphos and BIPHEP family of ligands, and a soluble base. This system catalyzes the addition of various anilines to norbornene, norbornadiene, and other bicyclic olefins. The products from addition of p-anisidine can be transformed to BOC-protected norbornylamine and to substituted cyclopentanes in nearly enantiopure form. Mechanistic studies show that addition of aniline-d2 occurs in a syn fashion and suggest that the catalytic cycle comprises oxidative addition of aniline to form a bis-anilide hydride complex, followed by migratory insertion of olefin and reductive elimination of product in a series of steps involving iridium complexes containing ancillary bisphosphine and arylamide ligands.