Asymmetric Hydrogenation via Capture of Active Intermediates Generated from Aza-Pinacol Rearrangement

An efficient palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation via capture of an active intermediate generated in situ from acid-catalyzed aza-Pinacol rearrangement has been successfully developed, providing efficient access to chiral exocyclic amines with up to 98% ee. Three-, four-, and five-membered cyclic N-sulfonyl amino alcohols are viable substrates. This study opens a new window to the application of asymmetric hydrogenation.