Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydro-genation of α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids

Significance

Compared with other enantioselective hydrogenation processes, the reactions of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids had not been developed with such ideal efficiency. The present work is setting a high bar for this very useful transformation by using a number of iridium-phosphine/oxazoline complexes derived from the novel backbone with spiro chirality. High yields, enantio­selectivities and turn-over frequencies are obtained under mild reaction conditions (room temperature and H₂ pressure as low as one atmo-sphere) for a broad range of substrates. We are sure that this method will find broad application not only in academic labs but also in industrial realm.