Imine hydrogenation provides a practical route to chiral amines.
Metolachlor is the active ingredient in the widely used herbicide Dual Magnum. A key step in its industrial production involves the enantioselective reduction of an N-aryl imine. This reduction is achieved with extremely high turnover number (albeit moderate enantioselectivity) through the use of a specialized catalyst system consisting of [Ir(COD)Cl], modified Josiphos ligand 3, and acid and iodide additives.