Iridium and rhodium complexes with the planar chiral thioether ligands in asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones and imines

Rhodium complexes with the planar chiral phosphinoferrocenyl thioether ligands [Rh(P,SR)(diene)X] (R = Me, Bu-t, Ph, Bn, diene is cyclooctadiene (COD) or norbornadiene (NBD), X = Cl, BF4) catalyze hydrogenation of ketones, imines, and heteroaromatic compounds; in the case of acetophenone, the enantioselectivity reached 60% ee. Similar iridium complexes demonstrate a good activity in the hydrogenation of imines, the maximal enantioselectivity in the case of N-phenyl-N-(1-phenylethylidene)amine was about 40% ee.