Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Unsaturated Alcohols

All of the olefins discussed so far contain a functional group, other than the C=C bond, that binds to the metal to create a defined structure. The asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins that lack this second functional group has been a major challenge. Few complexes of any type catalyze the hydrogenation of tri-substituted and tetra-substituted olefins, let alone catalyze asymmetric hydrogenation of these olefins. Recall from Section 15.3 on achiral catalysts for olefin hydrogenation that Wilkinson s catalyst and ruthenium-hydride complexes display little reactivity for the reduction of tri-substituted alkenes, and no reactivity for 

Chiral lanthanide catalysts studied for the asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalized olefins. 

---