Iridium Diamine Catalyst for the Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones

A simple and very efficient chiral aqua iridium(III) diamine complex leads to excellent enantioselectivities in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various α-cyano and α-nitro ketones. The catalyst provides the ortho-substituted aromatic alcohols with especially high ee values. The diamine ligands can be used directly as chiral ligands; conversion into the corresponding sulfamide is not necessary.