Advantageous asymmetric ketone reduction with a competitive hydrogenation/transfer hydrogenation system using chiral bifunctional iridium catalysts

摘要

Hydrogenation of aromatic ketones with chiral bifunctional amidoiridium complexes proceeds in preference to transfer hydrogenation in methanol, in which the pressurised hydrogen can suppress unintended racemisation of the alcoholic product, leading to enhanced enantioselectivity.