Thioether-phosphite: new ligands for the highly enantioselective Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation of minimally functionalized olefins

Abstract

We have described the first successful application of non-N-donor heterodonor ligands--thioether-phosphite ligands--in the Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation of minimally functionalized olefins. Excellent enantioselectivities (ee's up to 99%) have been obtained for a range of substrates, including challenging terminal disubstituted substrates, under standard conditions.