Asymmetric ring-opening of oxabenzonorbornadiene with amines promoted by a chiral iridium-monophosphine catalyst

A new iridium-monophosphine catalyst is found to be efficient for asymmetric ring-opening of benzonorbornadiene with amines, providing a series of chiral substituted dihydronaphthalenes in high yields (up to 98%) and excellent enantioselectivities (>99%).