Heterogenised iridium complexes for the asymmetric hydrogenation of imines

A method for immobilising preformed chiral homogeneous catalysts to a clay support material has been developed. The observed asymmetric induction in the hydrogenation of imines with the supported species was greater than that with the corresponding homogeneous catalysts and, on re-use, the supported species increased their enantioselectivity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.