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A new series of C 2 -symmetrical chiral ferrocene-based diphosphino-ethane ligands termed as f-DPE were developed. Assisted by the ion pairing interaction with the ligand, a wide scope of 2-substituted acrylic acids was hydrogenated to obtain chiral propanoic acids with high yields and enantioselectivities. The well-known anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen, naproxen, and flurbiprofen could be synthesized efficiently. In addition, the synthetic utilities of the current method were demonstrated by gram-scale experiments.

Owing to their distinctive 1,3‐dipolar structure, the catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of nitrones to hydroxylamines has been a formidable and longstanding challenge, characterized by intricate enantiocontrol and susceptibility to N−O bond cleavage. In this study, the asymmetric hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation of nitrones were accomplished with a tethered TsDPEN‐derived cyclopentadienyl rhodium(III) catalyst (TsDPEN: p‐toluenesulfonyl‐1,2‐diphenylethylene‐1,2‐diamine), the reaction proceeds via a novel 7‐membered cyclic transition state, producing chiral hydroxylamines with up to 99 % yield and >99 % ee. The practical viability of this methodology was underscored by gram‐scale catalytic reactions and subsequent transformations. Furthermore, mechanistic investigations and DFT calculations were also conducted to elucidate the origin of enantioselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We herein reported the design and synthesis of a ferrocene‐based tetradentate ligand that is featured with modular synthesis and rigid skeleton. Its iron(II) complex facilitates asymmetric direct hydrogenation of ketones without the participation of extra strong‐field ligand such as CO and isocyanide. Hydride donor lithium aluminum hydride (LAH) converted non‐reactive Fe(II) species to reactive Fe(II) hydride species. With this catalyst, various chiral alcohols including the intermediate for montelukast could be prepared with satisfactory yields and enantioinduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arene hydrogenation is the most straightforward method to prepare carbo‐ and heterocycles. However, the high resonance energy prevents aromatic substrates from hydrogenation. Herein the homogeneous, nucleophilic hydrogenation of less electron‐rich arenes and heteroarenes is reported. The Co(P4N2)H species that has been demonstrated to be a strong hydride donor could deliver a hydride ion to the cyano (hetero)arene substrates. Deuterium labeling experiments supported a Michael‐type reaction pathway. Theoretical analyses have been conducted to investigate the hydricity of the catalytically active CoH species and the electrophilicity of the arene substrates. An outlook for the synthesis of more challenging substituted benzenes was proposed based on the in silico modification of the CoH species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral succinimide moieties are ubiquitous in biologically active natural products and pharmaceuticals. Until today, despite the great interest, little success has been made for stereodivergent synthesis of chiral succinimides. Here, we report a general and efficient method for accessing 3,4-disubstituted succinimides through a dynamic kinetic resolution strategy based on asymmetric transfer hydrogenation. The Rh catalyst system exhibit high activities, enantioselectivities, and diastereoselectivities (up to 2000 TON, up to >99% ee, and up to >99:1 dr). Products with syn- and anti-configuration are obtained separately by control of the reaction conditions. For the N-unprotected substrates, both the enol and the imide group can be reduced by control of reaction time and catalyst loading. In addition, the detailed reaction pathway and origin of stereoselectivity are elucidated by control experiments and theoretical calculations. This study offers a straightforward and stereodivergent approach to the valuable enantioenriched succinimides (all 4 stereoisomers) from cheap chemical feedstocks in a single reaction step. Chiral succinimides are ubiquitous in bioactive compounds. Here, authors report a stereodivergent method for accessing 3,4-disubstituted succinimides, and the origin of stereoselectivity is elucidated by experimental and theoretical investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral β-heteroaryl amino alcohols are key fragments of many bioactive compounds and antibiotics, and the development of efficient synthetic methods for these compounds is of great value. The highly enantioselective hydrogenation of α-N-heteroaryl ketones was realized with a ruthenium-diphosphine–diamine catalyst, providing the corresponding chiral β-heteroaryl amino alcohols with up to 99% yield and up to >99% ee. The synthetic utilities of the current reaction were demonstrated by gram-scale synthesis of key intermediates of Sertaconazole and Cenobamate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the biological significance and great synthetic value of chiral lactones and their derivatives, increasing attention has been paid to developing effective synthetic methods for chiral lactones. We herein report an efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of benzo-fused ketoesters, γ-ketoesters and biaryl-bridged ketoesters catalyzed by chiral iridium complexes bearing ferrocene-based chiral ligands, furnishing a series of chiral lactones in superb yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% yields and up to 99% ee). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel synthetic route was developed for the construction of a chiral cis-hexahydro-γ-carboline derivative through Ir/ZhaoPhos-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of corresponding tetrahydro-γ-carboline with high yields (up to 99% yield), excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >99 : 1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee), and high substrate-to-catalyst ratios (up to 5000). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the biological significance and great synthetic value of 1,4-diarylbutane-1,4-diols and their derivatives, increasingly considerable attention has been paid to developing effective synthetic methods for chiral 1,4-diarylbutane-1,4-diols. We herein report an efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of 1,4-diaryldiketones catalyzed by a chiral iridium complex bearing f-amphox as ligand, furnishing a series of 1,4-diarylbutane-1,4-diols in excellent yields (up to >99%) with exceptional enantioselectivities (up to >99.9% ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to >100 : 1 dr). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric homogeneous hydrogenation under high pressure in continuous flow was achieved with a slug flow reactor. High hydrogen pressure enabled iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of acetophenone with a turn-over-frequency (TOF) of up to 274,000 h−1. An operando infrared tool was used to provide in-situ monitoring of the reaction. The effect of gas-liquid ratio and speed of slug flow in the microchannel were studied. The multi-step flow synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients, in which asymmetric hydrogenation is a key step, was successfully demonstrated, with subsequent reactions carried out under longer residence times within a cascade of CSTRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main observation and conclusion: Asymmetric hydrogenation reaction is one of the most efficient synthetic methods to form useful chiral compounds for synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry and material chemistry. Generally, the enantioselectivity of many hydrogenation reactions is controlled by steric hindrance between the chiral ligand and substrate. Recently, Zhang group developed a highly asymmetric hydrogenation of 2‐aryl and 2‐alkyl acrylic acids catalyzed by a Rh(I) catalyst with a chiral Wudaphos ligand. The excellent enantioselectivity of this asymmetric reaction was proposed to be controlled by ion‐pair interaction between the substrate and chiral ligand. In this study, a systematic density functional theory study has been carried out to investigate the reaction mechanism and origin of the enantioselectivity. Our computational results suggest that this reaction follows the classic mechanism involving oxidative addition of H2, migratory insertion and reductive elimination. Different from the C=C coordination to the metal in the common oxidative addition step, our study found that the chelation of the carboxyl group of the substrate to the cationic Rh(I) metal is more favorable in this oxidative addition step. The high enantioselectivity is proposed to be dictated by a better catalyst/substrate geometric complementarity in the major pathway to have less distortion of the catalyst for a strong ion‐pair interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral carboxylic acids are important compounds because of their prevalence in pharmaceuticals, natural products and agrochemicals. Asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids has been widely recognized as one of the most efficient synthetic approaches to afford such compounds. Although related asymmetric hydrogenation of di‐ and trisubstituted unsaturated acids with noble metals is well established, asymmetric hydrogenation of challenging tetrasubstituted α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids is rarely reported. We demonstrate enantioselective hydrogenation of cyclic and acyclic tetrasubstituted α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids via cobalt(II) catalysis. This protocol showed broad substrate scope and gave chiral carboxylic acids in good yields with excellent enantiocontrol (up to 98 % yield and 99 % ee). Combined experimental and computational mechanistic studies support a CoII catalytic cycle involving migratory insertion and σ‐bond metathesis processes. DFT calculations reveal that enantioselectivity may originate from the steric effect between the phenyl groups of the ligand and the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main observation and conclusion: The enantioselective hydrogenation of endocyclic enones has been a historical problem for homogeneous catalysis. We herein report an efficient method to reduce endocyclic enones with molecular hydrogen. Catalyzed by a rhodium/Zhaophos complex, a variety of enones with five‐, six‐ or seven‐member ring were hydrogenated with high enantioselectivity (92%—99% ee). Excellent chemo‐ and enantioselectivity demonstrated this method was successfully applied in the enantioselective hydrogenation of citral to produce enantio‐enriched citronellal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review provides a comprehensive view of the application of first-row transition metals in asymmetric hydrogenation and asymmetric transfer hydrogenation. The catalytic behavior of 3d metals is significantly different from that of 4d and 5d metals. The replacement of noble metals with first-row transition metals has encountered challenges such as different reaction mechanisms and unexpected deactivation of the catalyst. The potential involvement of a single-electron process has been the most notorious feature of first-row metals. This review aims to give readers a picture of how first-row transition metals catalyze hydrogenation reactions and the corresponding enantioinduction models. Although this article is partitioned according to the substrate type, it is mechanism-oriented and is focused on catalytic systems. A certain catalytic system could be applied in the hydrogenation of different types of double bonds. Similarities within first-row metals and differences from their 4d and 5d congeners were emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphine – oxazoline (PHOX) ligands are a very important class of privileged ligands in asymmetric catalysis. A series of highly rigid oxa-spiro phosphine – oxazoline (O-SIPHOX) ligands based on O-SPINOL was synthesized efficiently, and their iridium complexes were synthesized by coordination of the O-SIPHOX ligands to [Ir(cod)Cl]2 in the presence of sodium tetrakis-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenylborate (NaBArF). The cationic iridium complexes showed high reactivity and excellent enantioselectivity in the asymmetric hydrogenation of 1-methylene-tetrahydro-benzo[d]azepin-2-ones (up to 99% yield and up to 99% ee). A key intermediate of the anti-obesity drug lorcaserin could be efficiently synthesized using this protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unprecedented Ir/f‐amphox‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of racemic 2,3‐syn‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐diones is presented involving dynamic kinetic resolution, which produces (1R,2R,3R,4R)‐tetraols. This protocol constitutes an efficient and straightforward approach to accessing sugar alcohols bearing four contiguous stereocenters. The strategy exhibits various advantages over existing methods, including excellent yields (up to 98 %), exceptional stereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr, 99.9 % ee), operational simplicity and substrate generality. Moreover, the nature of the reaction was revealed as a stepwise transformation by in situ Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and isolation of intermediates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For over half a century, transition‐metal‐catalyzed homogeneous hydrogenation has been mainly focused on neutral and readily prepared unsaturated substrates. Although the addition of molecular hydrogen to C=C, C=N, and C=O bonds represents a well‐studied paradigm, the asymmetric hydrogenation of cationic species remains an underdeveloped area. In this study, we were seeking a breakthrough in asymmetric hydrogenation, with cationic intermediates as targets, and thereby anticipating applying this powerful tool to the construction of challenging chiral molecules. Under acidic conditions, both N‐ or O‐acetylsalicylamides underwent cyclization to generate cationic intermediates, which were subsequently reduced by an iridium or rhodium hydride complex. The resulting N,O‐acetals were synthesized with remarkably high enantioselectivity. This catalytic strategy exhibited high efficiency (turnover number of up to 4400) and high chemoselectivity. Mechanistic studies supported the hypothesis that a cationic intermediate was formed in situ and hydrogenated afterwards. A catalytic cycle has been proposed with hydride transfer from the iridium complex to the cationic sp2 carbon atom being the rate‐determining step. A steric map of the catalyst has been created to illustrate the chiral environment, and a quantitative structure–selectivity relationship analysis showed how enantiomeric induction was achieved in this chemical transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated acids catalyzed by noble metals has been well established, whereas, the asymmetric hydrogenation with earth-abundant-metal was rarely reported. Here, we describe a cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids. By using chiral cobalt catalyst bearing electron-donating diphosphine ligand, high activity (up to 1860 TON) and excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99% ee) are observed. Furthermore, the cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation is successfully applied to a broad spectrum of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids, such as various α-aryl and α-alkyl cinnamic acid derivatives, α-oxy-functionalized α,β-unsaturated acids, α-substituted acrylic acids and heterocyclic α,β-unsaturated acids (30 examples). The synthetic utility of the protocol is highlighted by the synthesis of key intermediates for chiral drugs (6 cases). Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that the carboxy group may be involved in the control of the reactivity and enantioselectivity through an interaction with the metal centre. A large number of marketed drugs contains a chiral carboxylic acid scaffold. Here, the authors report the asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids to α-chiral carboxylic acids using a cobalt catalyst bearing an electron-donating chiral diphosphine ligand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly efficient Ni-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic N-sulfonyl ketimino esters was, for the first time, successfully developed, providing various chiral α-monosubstituted α-amino acid derivatives with excellent results (97–99% yields, 90 to >99% ee). Cyclic N-sulfonyl ketimines were also hydrogenated well to afford chiral amine derivatives with 98–99% yields and 97 to >99% ee. The gram-scale asymmetric hydrogenation was performed well with 85% yield and 99% ee using only 0.2 mol% catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic hydrogenation has not been extensively explored, but is advantageous for challenging substrates such as unsaturated intermediates. Reported here is an iridium‐catalyzed hydrogenation of oxocarbenium ions to afford chiral isochromans with high enantioselectivities. A variety of functionalities are compatible with this catalytic system. In the presence of a catalytic amount of the Brønsted acid HCl, an α‐chloroether is generated in situ and subsequentially reduced. Kinetic studies suggest first‐order kinetics in the substrate and half‐order kinetics in the catalyst. A positive nonlinear effect, together with the half kinetic order, revealed a dimerization of the catalyst. Possible reaction pathways based on the monomeric iridium catalyst were proposed and DFT computational studies revealed an ionic hydrogenation pathway. Chloride abstraction and the cleavage of dihydrogen occur in the same step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient diastereoselective transfer hydrogenation of α-aminoalkyl α′-chloromethyl ketones catalyzed by a tethered rhodium complex was developed and successfully utilized in the synthesis of the key intermediates of HIV protease inhibitors. With the current Rh(III) catalyst system, a series of chiral 3-amino-1-chloro-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanes were produced in excellent yields and diastereoselectivities (up to 99% yield, up to 99 : 1 dr). Both diastereomers of the desired products could be efficiently accessed by using the two enantiomers of the Rh(III) catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Iridium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic sulfamidate imines was successfully developed with N‐methylated ZhaoPhos L2 as the ligand. A variety of chiral cyclic sulfamidates were obtained with excellent results (up to 99% yield, 99% ee). Furthermore, this asymmetric hydrogenation can be employed as the key reaction step to prepare the important intermediates in organic synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iridium/f‐Amphol‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of various benzo‐fused five to seven‐membered cyclic ketones was successfully developed, affording a series of chiral benzo‐fused cyclic alcohols with excellent results (75%–99% yields, 93%–>99% ee, and TON up to 297 000). The enantioenriched products can be employed as key intermediates or motifs for the synthesis of some important biologically active compounds, such as rasagiline mesylate TVP‐1012 used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, the enantiomer of anticonvulsant drug eslicarbazepine acetate (BIA 2‐093). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient ruthenium‐catalyzed asymmetric reductive amination (ARA) of racemic β‐keto lactams with molecular hydrogen and ammonium salts is disclosed for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure primary amino lactams through dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR). By this approach, a range of syn primary β‐amino lactams were obtained in high yields with high chemo‐, enantio‐, and diastereoselectivity (up to 98 % yield, 99 % ee, >20:1 d.r. syn products). The utility of the products has been demonstrated by rapid access to a key synthetic intermediate towards biologically active drug molecules. Meanwhile, mechanistic studies and control experiments indicate that the reaction may proceed through the hydrogenation of an iminium intermediate. Resolved, problem solved: Racemic β‐keto lactams underwent ruthenium‐catalyzed asymmetric reductive amination with molecular hydrogen and ammonium salts to give enantiomerically enriched primary amino lactams in high yields with high chemo‐ and stereoselectivity through dynamic kinetic resolution. Mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction pathway may involve the hydrogenation of iminium ions rather than enamine intermediates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A highly regio‐ and enantioselective hydrogenation of challenging tetrasubstituted allenyl sulfones has been developed, affording chiral allylic sulfones in good yields with excellent regio‐ and enantioselectivities (up to 99 % yield and 99 % ee). This method provides an efficient and concise route to chiral allylic sulfones, thus offering an atom‐economic process with a wide range of potential applications in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of novel and easily accessed ferrocene‐based amino‐phosphine‐sulfonamide (f‐Amphamide) ligands have been developed and applied in Ir‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of aryl ketones, affording the corresponding chiral secondary alcohols with excellent results (up to >99% conversion, >99% ee and TON up to 200 000). DFT calculations suggest an activating model involving an alkali cation Li+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Iridium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral halogenated ketones was successfully developed to prepare various chiral halohydrins with high reactivities and excellent enantioselectivities under basic reaction condition (up to >99% conversion, 99% yield, >99% ee). Moreover, gram‐scale experiment was performed well in the presence of just 0.005 mol% (S/C=20 000) Ir/f‐amphox catalyst with 99% yield and >99% ee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of β-keto sulfonamides was developed via dynamic kinetic resolution using a chiral Ru(ii) catalyst with an azeotropic solution of HCO2H/Et3N as a hydrogen donor, affording α-substituted β-hydroxyl sulfonamides in good yields with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. This method is featured with mild conditions, easy operation, and a broad substrate scope, which make it possible to find wide applications in the synthesis of natural products and biologically active compounds containing the α-substituted β-hydroxyl sulfonamide core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upon incorporation of a noncovalent ion pair interaction, a new chiral ferrocenyl bisphosphorus ligand t-Bu-Wudaphos was developed. t-Bu-Wudaphos can be easily synthesized with very high diastereoselectivity as a highly air stable solid. The new ligand exhibited excellent reactivities and enantioselectivities in the asymmetric hydrogenation of α-methylene-γ-keto-carboxylic acids via an ion pair noncovalent interaction (up to ＞99% conversion, ＞99% ee). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A succinct and efficient protocol was developed for the synthesis of chiral aromatic ketones via asymmetric hydrogenation of β,β-disubstituted enones with rhodium catalysts based on chiral bisphosphine thiourea ligands. A series of substrates (17 examples) was smoothly catalyzed to afford the corresponding chiral aromatic ketones in high conversions (＞99%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have successfully developed the asymmetric hydrogenation of β-silyl-α,β-unsaturated esters to prepare chiral 3-substituted-3-silylpropionic ester products catalyzed by rhodium/bisphosphine-thiourea (ZhaoPhos) with excellent results (up to 97% yield, >99% ee, 1500 TON). Moreover, our hydrogenation products can be efficiently converted to other important organic molecules, such as chiral ethyl ( R)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoate or ( R)-3-[dimethyl(phenyl)silyl]-3-phenylpropanoic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of challenging tetrasubstituted β-acetoxy-α-enamido esters was developed, giving chiral β-acetoxy-α-amido esters in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to ＞99% ee). The products could be easily transformed to β-hydroxy-α-amino acid derivatives which are valuable chiral building blocks and a novel route for the synthesis of droxidopa was also developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the unique character of enzymes, we developed novel chiral SPO (secondary-phosphine-oxide) ligand (SPO-Wudaphos) which can enter into both ion pair and H-bond noncovalent interactions. The novel chiral SPO-Wudaphos exhibited excellent results in the asymmetric hydrogenation of α-methylene-γ-keto carboxylic acids, affording the chiral γ-keto acids with up to over 99 % ee. A series of control experiments and DFT calculations were conducted to illustrate the critical roles of both the ion pair and H-bond noncovalent interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt-catalyzed highly (Z)-selective semihydrogenation of alkynes using molecular H2 was developed using commercially available and cheap cobalt precursors. A variety of (Z)-alkenes were obtained in moderate to excellent selectivities [(Z)-alkene/(E)-alkene/alkane ratio up to ＞99 : 1 : 1] and it was found that the readily available ethylenediamine ligand is crucial in determining the selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric hydrogenation of various 3-substituted maleic anhydrides catalyzed by Rh/bisphosphine-thiourea (ZhaoPhos) under mild conditions was successfully developed. A wide range of 3-alkyl and 3-aryl maleic anhydrides were hydrogenated well to provide the desired products 3-substituted succinic anhydrides in one hour with excellent results (full conversions, up to 99% yield, 99% ee, 3000 TON). Importantly, we developed a creative and efficient synthetic route to construct the key intermediate of the hypoglycemic drug mitiglinide through our catalytic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of challenging tetrasubstituted cyclic enamides has been developed, affording cyclic chiral amides with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield and >99% ee). This novel methodology provides an efficient and concise synthetic route to chiral cycloalkylamines with two contiguous stereogenic centers. The potential utility of this protocol in the synthesis of bioactive molecules is also disclosed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-amino acrylonitriles has been developed, affording α-acylamino nitriles with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield and ＞99% ee). This novel methodology provides an efficient and concise synthetic route to chiral α-amino nitriles, which are versatile intermediates in organic synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have successfully developed a series of novel and modular ferrorence-based amino-phosphine-alcohol (f-Amphol) ligands, and applied them to iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of various simple ketones to afford the corresponding chiral alcohols with excellent enantioselectivities and conversions (98-99.9 % ee, >99 % conversion, turnover number up to 200 000). Control experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations have shown that the hydroxyl group of our f-Amphol ligands played a key role in this asymmetric hydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric hydroformylation represents one of the most efficient routes for the preparation of chiral aldehydes from alkenes in the presence of syngas in a perfect atom-economic way. During the past few decades, a variety of chiral ligands have been developed for the asymmetric hydroformylation. However, only a few ligands exhibit good performance in terms of the regio- and enantioselectivities. Additionally, for the chiral ligands developed up to now, only limited substrates were tolerated and no examples have led to the application of the asymmetric hydroformylation reaction on a commercial scale due to several technical challenges. This account provides a brief introduction of the current efficient chiral ligands for asymmetric hydroformylation and the ongoing efforts we have made in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An asymmetric mono-hydrogenation of 2-acetamido-1,3-dienes catalyzed by a Rh–DuanPhos complex has been developed. This approach provides easy access to chiral allylic amines with excellent enantioselectivities and high regioselectivities. The products are valuable chiral building blocks for pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We successfully extended our Rh/bisphosphine-thiourea (ZhaoPhos) catalytic system to asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated N-acylpyrazoles affording products with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97% yield, 99% ee). The pyrazole moiety played an important role in providing H-bond acceptor sites, which is critical for achieving high reactivities and enantioselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New bipyridinemethanamine-containing tetradentate ligands and their corresponding ruthenium complexes have been synthesized. The synthesized complexes performed well in the hydrogenation of a variety of esters with high efficiency (TON up to 9700) giving alcohols in good yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of N-alkyl-2-alkylpyridinium salts provided 2-aryl-substituted piperidines with high levels of enantioselectivity. Simple benzyl and other alkyl groups successfully activated the challenging pyridine substrates toward hydrogenation. The use of the unusual chiral-phosphole-based MP2-SEGPHOS was the key to the success of this approach which provides a versatile and practical procedure for the synthesis of chiral piperidines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly chemoselective and reactive direct catalytic reduction of various amides to amines and alcohols was developed by using a tetradentate ruthenium complex. The catalytic system showed excellent activity (turnover numbers up to 19 600) and great functional group tolerance under mild reaction conditions, compared to several bidentate and tridentate ruthenium-catalyzed systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric hydrogenation of unprotected NH imines catalyzed by rhodium/bis(phosphine)-thiourea provided chiral amines with up to 97 % yield and 95 % ee. 1H NMR studies, coupled with control experiments, implied that catalytic chloride-bound intermediates were involved in the mechanism through a dual hydrogen-bonding interaction. Deuteration experiments proved that the hydrogenation proceeded through a pathway consistent with an imine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Go catalytic! A highly enantioselective hydrogenation of β,β‐disubstituted nitroalkenes and isomeric mixtures of nitroalkenes by using a Rh/DuanPhos catalytic system under basic conditions has furnished a convenient approach to β‐chiral nitroalkanes, which are otherwise not so easy to make (see scheme). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct route: A Rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation method for the efficient synthesis of a broad range of chiral allylic amines and aliphatic amines from readily available materials was developed. A chiral Z‐allylic amine was obtained for the first time through a Rhodium–DuanPhos‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation. TMS=Trimethylsilyl, cod=cyclooctadiene, TON=turnover number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]