Yttrium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Hydroamination of Norbornene with Simple Amines

The intermolecular hydroamination of norbornene with simple amines was achieved using silyl-substituted ortho-terphenoxide yttrium complexes. Excellent conversion was obtained for both benzylic and aliphatic amines. For benzyl and linear aliphatic amines, the highest activity was observed for the sterically more encumbered methyldiphenylsilyl-substituted complex, whereas the trimethylsilyl-substituted complex was more active for sterically encumbered primary amines.