Highly Efficient Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Alkyl Aryl Ketones Catalyzed by Iridium Complexes with Chiral Planar Ferrocenyl Phosphino‐Thioether Ligands

Iridium complexes of planar‐chiral ferrocenyl phosphine‐thioether ligands were tested in the hydrogenation of simple ketones. Optimization of the conditions led to a highly active catalytic system with turnover numbers up to 915 and turnover frequencies up to ca. 250 h−1. Furthermore, very high enantioselectivities (up to >99 %) together with complete conversions were obtained for the asymmetric hydrogenation of various acetophenones at 10 °C.