Imine Reduction with Me2S-BH3

Although there exists a variety of different catalysts for hydroboration of organic substrates such as aldehydes, ketones, imines, nitriles etc., recent evidence suggests that tetra-coordinate borohydride species, formed by activation, redistribution, or decomposition of boron reagents, are the true hydride donors. We then proposed that Me2S-BH3 could also act as a hydride donor for the reduction of various imines, as similar compounds have been observed to reduce carbonyl substrates. This boron reagent was shown to be an effective and chemoselective hydroboration reagent for a wide variety of imines.