Asymmetric Transformations under Iridium/Chiral Diene Catalysis

Chelating chiral dienes have become steering ligands for iridium in several types of asymmetric reactions. Some effective examples realized only by use of chiral diene ligands instead of conventional ligands based on phosphine and nitrogen have appeared in the iridium-catalyzed processes. In particular, it should be noted that Ir/chiral diene catalysts allow enantioselective reactions involving C-H bond activation. In this Perspective, recent progress in asymmetric reactions catalyzed by Ir/chiral diene complexes is summarized.