In Situ Generation of a Regio- and Diastereoselective Hydroaminoalkylation Catalyst Using Commercially Available Starting Materials.

The design of an easy to use catalyst system for the regio- and diastereoselective intermolecular hydroaminoalkylation of alkenes with secondary amines is reported. The method utilizes commercially available ligands and tantalum starting materials, and does not require the isolation of air and water sensitive organometallic complexes. The in situ prepared catalyst is active toward a variety of secondary amine substrates, including those with ethyl substituents which yield α- and β-alkylated amines as a single diastereomer. This catalytic transformation can be used to prepare amines containing functionality that promotes ring closure to achieve the diastereoselective synthesis of di- and trialkylated N-heterocycles.