Bifunctional homogeneous catalysts based on first row transition metals in asymmetric hydrogenation

Abstract

This article reviews over the past 10 years the development of bifunctional homogeneous catalysts based on first row transition metals for asymmetric hydrogenation of various CC, CO and CN double bonds. Following the impressive performances of ruthenium based bifunctional catalysts in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation and asymmetric hydrogenation and, because of economic, environmental and societal reasons, bifunctional catalysts based on abundant metals and mainly on the first row transition metals have gradually been developed over the last decade. Hence, several bifunctional catalysts based on iron, manganese, cobalt and nickel have been reported and promising activities and enantioselectivities have already been achieved. This review highlights and discusses the reactivity and performances of these new bifunctional catalysts as well as the implied reaction mechanisms.