Asymmetric addition of an N -methyl C(sp 3 )-H bond to cyclic alkenes enabled by an iridium/phosphine-olefin catalyst.

Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric C-H addition of an N -methyl group on 3-trifluoromethyl-2-( N -methylamino)pyridine to cyclic alkenes was realized by using a phosphine-olefin ligand. Indene and its 7-substituted derivatives, acenaphthylene, and some bicyclic alkenes underwent the addition to give the corresponding products in good yields with high enantioselectivity.