Patent ID: 8461386

Claim:
A process for asymmetric hydrogenation of an imine having formula 1: to obtain an amine having formula 2: said process comprising contacting said imine having the above formula 1 with hydrogen under elevated pressure in a predetermined organic solvent in the presence of a catalyst system; said catalyst system comprising a ligand complexed to a metal selected from iridium and rhodium or a salt thereof; wherein said ligand is at least one selected from the group consisting of a. [(1R,2R,3S)-1,2-dimethyl-2,3-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-cyclopentyl]methanol; b. (1S,4S, 11R)-1,11-bis-[(diphenylphosphanyl)-methyl]-11-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,4-methano-phenazin; c. (R)-3-di-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)phosphino-2-(4-diphenylphosphino-2,5-dimethylthienyl-3)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo-[2.2.1]-hept-2-ene; d. (S)-2-[(o-diphenylphosphino)-phenyl]-1-diphenylphosphino-ferrocene; e. (S)-1-(diphenylphosphino)-2-(S)-(o-diphenylphosphino-α-methoxybenzyl)ferrocene; f. (+)-(S)-N,N-Dimethyl-1-[(R)-1′,2-bis-(Diphenylphosphino)-ferrocenyl]-ethylamine; and g. [(S)-1-[(R)-2-diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]-ethyl-di(cyclohexyl)-phosphine.