Chiral cyclometalated iridium complexes for asymmetric reduction reactions

A series of chiral cyclometalated iridium complexes have been synthesised by cyclometalating chiral 2-aryl-oxazoline and imidazoline ligands with [Cp*IrCl2](2). These iridacycles were studied for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reactions with formic acid as the hydrogen source and were found to display various activities and enantioselectivities, with the most effective ones affording up to 63% ee in the asymmetric reductive amination of ketones and 77% ee in the reduction of pyridinium ions.

Automated summary

A series of chiral cyclometalated iridium complexes were synthesized and studied for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reactions using formic acid as the hydrogen source, showing different activities and enantioselectivities, with the most effective ones achieving up to 63% ee in asymmetric reductive amination of ketones and 77% ee in reduction of pyridinium ions.