Effect of charge distribution on selective hydrogenation of conjugated enones catalyzed by iridium complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)96108-3

Chemoselectivity in the reduction of substituted conjugated enones catalyzed by iridium/phosphine systems appears to be slightly dependent on the charge distribution around the carbonyl group of the substrates: electron, withdrawing groups enhance the reduction rate of the ketonic function. Enantioselectivity, in the case of the catalytic system studied, appears to be related essentially to the steric hindrance in the substrate.