Enantioselective Monoallylation of Ammonia

The successful utilization of ammonia in allylation reactions has little precedent (see: T. Nagano, S. Kobayashi J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 4200). The authors disclose a more general mono-allylation of ammonia through the development of an iridium-phosphoramidite complex which is stable to a large excess of the simple amine. The authors report a good variety of chiral amine products in high enantioselectivities and moderate yields.