Highly enantioselective synthesis of sultams via Pd-catalyzed hydrogenation.

Using pd(cf(3)co(2))2/(S,S)-f-Binaphane as the catalyst, an efficient enantioselective synthesis of sultams was developed via asymmetric hydrogenation of the corresponding cyclic imines with high enantioselectivities. The hydrogenation products can be conveniently transformed to chiral homoallylic amines without loss of enantioselectivity.