Chiral Alkyl Amine Synthesis via Catalytic Enantioselective Hydroalkylation of Enamides

Chiral alkyl amines are omnipresent as bio-active molecules and synthetic intermediates. Catalytic and enantioselective synthesis of alkyl amines from readily accessible precursors is challenging. Here we develop a nickel-catalyzed hydroalkylation method to assemble a wide range of chiral alkyl amines from enamides and alkyl halides in high regio- and enantioselectivity. The method works for both non-activated and activated alkyl halides, and is able to produce enantiomerically enriched amines with two minimally differentiated alpha-alkyl substituents. The mild conditions lead to high functional group tolerance, which is demonstrated in the post-product functionalization of many natural products and drug molecules, as well as the synthesis of chiral building blocks and key intermediates to bio-active compounds.