Enantioselective Access to Dialkyl Amines and Alcohols via Ni-Catalyzed Reductive Hydroalkylations

Abstract Chiral dialkyl amines and alcohols are ubiquitous in pharmaceuticals, pesticides, natural products and fine chemicals, yet difficult to access due to the challenge to differentiate between the spatially and electronically similar alkyl groups. Herein, we report a nickel-catalyzed enantioselective reductive hydroalkylation of acyl enamines and enol esters with alkyl halides to afford enantioenriched α-branched aliphatic amines and alcohols in good yields with excellent levels of enantioselectivity. The operationally simple protocol provides a straightforward access to chiral dialkyl amine and alcohol derivatives from simple starting materials with great functional group tolerance.