Rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines with sodium tetraarylborates.

A diastereoselective rhodium-catalyzed arylation of N-(tert-butanesulfinyl)imines with sodium tetraarylborates is described. This method is general for constructing various chiral α-branched amines and 2-substituted pyrrolidines with high diastereoselectivity. A practical asymmetric approach to access chiral amines has been developed involving the use of air-stable Rh catalysts and reagents and in the absence of an external ligand.