Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Acyclic Aromatic N-Aryl Imines Catalyzed by an Iridium Complex of (S,S)-1,2-Bis(tert-butylmethylphosphino)ethane

[reaction: see text] An iridium(I) complex of (S,S)-1,2-bis(tert-butylmethylphosphino)ethane with tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate as the counterion catalyzes the hydrogenation of acyclic aromatic N-aryl imines under 1 atm of hydrogen pressure at room temperature to give the corresponding optically active secondary amines with up to 99% ee.