Chiral Iridium Complexes of Anionic NCP Pincer Ligand for Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of 1,1-Diarylethenes with Ethanol

Chiral iridium complexes ligated by anionic oxazoline-bearing NCP-type pincer ligands were developed and applied to the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of diarylethenes using environmentally benign ethanol as the hydrogen donor. High enantioselectivities could be achieved for substrates bearing ortho-Me, ortho-Cl, or ortho-Br substituents on one of the aryl groups. The ATH of ortho-Br-substituted diarylethenes is particularly attractive due to the propensity of the C(aryl)–Br bond to undergo various new bond-forming events.