Patent ID: 7816533

Claim:
A process for the hydrogenation and/or asymmetric hydrogenation of an imine of Formula (I) to an amine of Formula (II) and/or its other enantiomer: wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl, which two groups are optionally substituted; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, C 1-10 alkyl, C 2-10 alkenyl, C 2-10 alkynyl, C 3-10 cycloalkyl, C 3-10 cycloalkenyl and C 3-10 heterocyclo, which latter eight groups are optionally substituted; and R 3 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C 1 to C 2 alkyl and optionally substituted C 3-10 cycloalkyl; wherein the optional substituents of R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from one or more of the group consisting of halo, NO 2 , OR 4 , NR 4 2 and R 4 , in which R 4 is independently selected from one or more of the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, C 1-6 alkyl, C 2-6 alkenyl, C 3-6 cycloalkyl and C 3-6 cycloalkenyl; the optional substituents of R 3 are independently selected from one or more of the group consisting of halo, NO 2 , OC 1-6 alkyl, N(C 1-6 alkyl) 2 and C 1-6 alkyl; and one or more of the carbon atoms in the alkyl, alkenyl and/or alkynyl groups of R 1 , R 2 and/or R 3 is optionally replaced with a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of O, S, N, O and Si, which, where possible, is optionally substituted with one or more C 1-6 alkyl groups; said process comprising the steps of reacting imines of Formula (I) in the presence of a H 2 pressure between 30 bar and 80 bar, a base and a catalytic system in which the catalytic system comprises a ruthenium complex comprising (I) a diamine and (2) a diphosphine ligand or monodentate phosphine ligand.