Homogeneous Hydrogenation of Imines Catalyzed by Iridium Complexes

We report the reduction of a model substrate, PhN=CHPh in the presence of a range of iridium complexes of the type [Ir(cod)(PR₃)(py)][PF₆] and [Ir(cod)(PR₃)₂[PF₆]. Reduction is rapid with complexes of unhindered phosphines. The X-ray structure of one of the complexes is reported.