Synthesis of Chiral Trifluoromethylated Amines by Palladium‐Catalyzed Diastereoselective Hydrogenation‐Hydrogenolysis Approach

The synthesis of chiral 2,2,2‐trifluoro‐1‐phenylethylamines by palladium‐catalyzed diastereoselective heterogeneous catalytic hydrogenation is described. The one‐pot process involves two steps; the diastereoselective hydrogenation of chiral 2,2,2‐trifluoro‐1‐phenylethyl‐N‐1′‐phenylethylimines and the hydrogenolysis of the methylbenzyl group on the amino function. During both the hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis steps favorable stereoinduction was observed, and the products were obtained in 90–93% ee and 50–55% yield.