An efficient enantioselective hydrogenation of sterically hindered cyclic imines catalyzed by the Ir-tBu-ax-Josiphos complex has been described, producing a series of useful chiral bulky tetrahydroisoquinoline analogs in high isolated yields (85–96%) with good to excellent enantioselectivities (74–99% ee). This transformation provided highly straightforward access to the useful derivatives of tetrahydroisoquinolines