Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Tetrasubstituted Olefins

Significance

The hydrogenation of tetrasubstituted olefins remains challenging despite the many examples of hydrogenation catalysts described in recent years. Few catalysts have been reported that can convert highly substituted olefins under mild conditions in high enantioselecti­vities. Pfaltz and co-workers report the synthesis of novel P,N-ligands based on the phosphino oxazoline motif and the use of the corresponding iridium complexes in the asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalized, tetrasubstituted olefins.