Zirconium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Cyclohydroamination of Alkenes

Significance

An efficient Zr-catalyzed enantio­selective cyclohydroamination of alkenes is reported. The reaction affords chiral pyrrolidine products in good to excellent yields with high enantioselectivity, which is proposed to arise from the steric bulk between substrate and the imposed mesityl group of the amidate complex. By using the (-)-precatalyst, the synthesis of the other enantiomer may be achieved with comparable enantioselectivity. The catalyst loading may be reduced to 5 mol% without loss in enantioselectivity. The reaction is limited to primary aminoalkenes and has not been adequately investigated in terms of scope and limitations.