Highly Efficient Iron Catalyst for the Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation

Significance

Compared with the ruthenium- and rhodium-based hydrogenation catalysts, iron-based catalysts of comparable activity would be desirable owing to their potentially lower cost, toxicity, and environmental impact. The authors report the first catalyst systems using iron complexes for asymmetric hydrogenation. The enantioselectivity was not high; however, this catalyst showed excellent reactivity (TOF: 995 h^-1).