Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroboration/Amination and Alkylamination with Rhodium Complexes of 1,1′-(2-Diarylphosphino-1-naphthyl)isoquinoline

Catecholboronate esters formed by asymmetric hydroboration of arylalkenes are not directly converted to amines by reaction with hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid. Prior conversion to a trialkylborane by reaction with ZnEt2 or MeMgCl permits a subsequent amination reaction to occur with essentially complete retention of configuration, leading to a range of primary alpha-arylalkylamines in up to 97% enantiomeric excess (ee). Secondary, but not tertiary amines may be formed by a related pathway when in situ generated alkylchloramines are employed as the aminating agent. The catalytic asymmetric hydroboration, beta-alkylation and amination steps may be combined in a single stage. Overall, this provides a practical procedure for the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched arylamines, exemplified inter alia by the synthesis of (S)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthylamine in 95-97% ee and of (R)-N-(cyclohexyl)-1'-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylamine in 93% ee.