Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of 1-phenyl dihydroisoquinolines using Ru(II) diamine catalysts

A new [Ru(II)( η 6 - p -cymene)(1 R ,2 R )- N -((1 S ,2 S )-borneol-10-sulfonyl)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine] catalyst for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of both 1-alkyl and 1-aryl dihydroisoquinolines has been isolated. For the first time in this type of reaction, the catalyst employs an N-alkylsulfonyl group instead of N-arylsulfonyl.