Catalytic Asymmetric Reductive Alkylation of Enamines to Chiral Aliphatic Amines

Herein, we report a mild and general nickel-catalysed asymmetric reductive alkylation to effectively convert enamines—a class of important yet underexploited feedstock chemicals—into drug-like α-branched chiral amines and derivatives. This reaction involves the regio- and stereoselective hydrometallation of an enamine to generate a catalytic amount of enantioenriched alkylnickel intermediate, followed by C–C bond formation via alkyl electrophiles.