Asymmetric Homogeneous Hydrogenation and Related Reactions

Following the first publication by Calvin in 1938 [1], homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation [2–5] has evolved into one of the most intensively studied branches of catalysis. This development has been supported up until now principally by the possibility this “simple” reaction offered for an understanding of some basic problems of catalysis by transition metals. In fact, homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation by transition metal complexes has possibly become the theoretically and mechanistically best known catalytic reaction of this sort.