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Improved Methodology for the Preparation of Chiral Amines

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Chapter 2<br />

Imine Reduction<br />

2.1. Historical View<br />

Reduction <strong>of</strong> imines with chiral catalysts and hydride source to prepare α-chiral amines with<br />

high yield and enantioselectivity represents an important achievement in organic and<br />

pharmaceutical chemistry over <strong>the</strong> last two decades. Different catalytic systems have been<br />

developed, heterogeneous and homogenous systems and recently organocatalysis were<br />

investigated. Few <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se systems were applicable on industrial scale. [1] Historically<br />

heterogeneous systems were developed first. Many attempts to attach chiral auxiliary to<br />

heterogeneous catalysts (Pt/C, Pd/C and R-Ni) were not successful to attain high<br />

enantioselectivity.<br />

Homogenous systems proved to be <strong>the</strong> systems <strong>of</strong> choice to reduce imines on <strong>the</strong> laboratory<br />

and on <strong>the</strong> industrial scales. In general all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se systems require <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> activated imines<br />

as substrates in which nitrogen atom is attached to a bulk group (phenyl, phosphinoyl, chiral<br />

auxiliary). [2,3] These groups have to be removed in <strong>the</strong> final step which adds to <strong>the</strong> total<br />

number <strong>of</strong> steps from <strong>the</strong> prochiral ketone to <strong>the</strong> α-chiral amine. Removal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se groups<br />

requires harsh conditions which is not compatible with many sensitive groups.<br />

In general cyclic imines are easier in reduction with higher enantioselectivity as <strong>the</strong>y do not<br />

have anit/syn con<strong>for</strong>mation. [4] They are considered important intermediates <strong>for</strong> many<br />

pharmaceutical drugs. Acyclic aryl imines were successfully hydrogenated with high<br />

enantioselectivities and yields. Metals as Rh, Ru, Ir and Ti were useful in this process. Ir was<br />

<strong>the</strong> best metal <strong>for</strong> imine reduction with different chiral auxiliaries. Ru catalysts which were<br />

developed by Noyori and proved to be highly effective in <strong>the</strong> reduction <strong>of</strong> ketones showed<br />

limited success. Titanium system which was developed by Buchwald in <strong>the</strong> nineties gave<br />

superior results in terms <strong>of</strong> yield and enantioselectivity but <strong>the</strong>ir industrial application was<br />

not that successful. [1] In this section <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>sis, I will focus on <strong>the</strong> achievments in <strong>the</strong> field<br />

34

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