Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Exocyclic Ketones, Lactones, and Lactams

Significance

The authors discovered a very efficient iridium-catalyzed process for asymmetric hydrogenation of exocyclic α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds using axis-unfixed phosphine oxazoline ligands. Five-membered exocyclic α,β-unsaturated ketones, lactones, and lactams were hydrogenated to generate corresponding α-chiral carbonyl compounds in high conversion and enantioselectivities.