Spiro[4,4]-1,6-nonadiene-Based Phosphine-Oxazoline Ligands for Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Ketimines

From imines to amines through catalysis by IrI complexes of a new type of P,N ligand (see scheme): This reaction affords the corresponding optically active amines with up to 98 % ee and has also been used with perfect stereoselectivity in the asymmetric synthesis of sertraline (1), an important antidepressant chiral drug.