Highly activity asymmetric hydrogenation of enones catalyzed by iridium complexes with chiral diamines and achiral phosphines

Abstract

A selective asymmetric hydrogenation of enones has been well established by using an iridium complex composed of cheap phosphine ligands and cinchona alkaloids derivatives as catalyst. A wide range of allylic alcohol products could be obtained in high chemoselectivities (up to 99.6%), enantioselectivities (70.1% ee) and high activities (up to 3.64 × 104(1/h) TOF). This catalytic system opens a new way of selective asymmetric hydrogenation and the method can be of practical value.