Highly enantioselective reductive amination of simple aryl ketones catalyzed by Ir-f-Binaphane in the presence of titanium(IV) isopropoxide and iodine.

Using an Ir-f-Binaphane complex as the catalyst, complete conversions and high enantioselectivies (up to 96% ee) were achieved in the asymmetric reductive amination of aryl ketones in the presence of Ti(O(i)()Pr)(4) and I(2). A simple and efficient method of synthesizing chiral primary amines has been realized.