Carboxy‐Directed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of 1,1‐Diarylethenes and 1,1‐Dialkylethenes

Abstract

Carboxy marks the spot: A carboxy-directed asymmetric hydrogenation of 1,1-diarylethenes and 1,1-dialkylethenes with chiral iridium/spiro phosphine–oxazoline catalysts has been developed. A wide range of chiral diarylethanes and chiral γ-methyl fatty acids were synthesized with excellent enantioselectivity (see scheme).