Iridium‐Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of the CC Bond of α, β‐Unsaturated Ketones

A fine selection: The installation of chiral centers at the α position of ketones is achieved with excellent enantioselectivity by means of iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated ketones under mild conditions. The catalyst incorporates a phosphinooxazoline (PHOX)-based ligand, which exhibits high levels of asymmetric induction (see scheme; BArF−=tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate; cod=cyclooctadiene).