Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Activated Imines

N Alky] and N aryl imines have received the most attention in the literature, but significant research has also been performed in the area of activated imines, that is, imines with electron withdrawing substituents at N. In addition to having different reactivity from N alkyl and N aryl imines, these compounds are intrinsically open to further functionalization after hydrogenation. The first of these compounds to be reduced enantioselectively were the N tosyl amines. In contrast to the related reaction with N alkyl and N aryl amines, the asymmetric hydrogenations of N tosyl amines are most often catalyzed by complexes of palladium. 

2 Chiral Amines with a Disubstituted Nitrogen Atom, HNR R 203 

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