Catalytic Reductive Addition of Imine for Chiral Amine Synthesis: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

Optically active amine represents the most important structure motif in natural products and biologically active compounds. Stereoselective reductive addition of imine with the utilization of electrophilic component offers a concise and operationally simple method for the synthesis of chiral amines. This review mainly highlights recent significant synthetic methodology developments in reductive addition of imine for chiral amine synthesis including chiral auxiliary‐mediated diastereoselective transformation, asymmetric transition‐metal catalysis, organocatalysis and enzymatic catalysis. In addition, the electrophilic reagents scopes and mechanistic aspects have also been introduced in this review.