Asymmetric Biomimetic Transamination of Trifluoromethyl Ketones.

In the presence of chiral pyridoxamine 4b as the catalyst and 2,2-diphenylglycine ( 3 ) as the amine source, asymmetric biomimetic transamination of trifluoromethyl ketones produces optically active α-trifluoromethyl amines 6 in 81-98% yields with 88-95% ee's under mild conditions.