Stereoselective synthesis iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation

In this review, the main contributions of computational chemistry to the understanding of the mechanisms of rhodium-, ruthenium-, and iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation reactions of aUcenes, enamides, acrylamides, and ketones are summarized. These studies provided atomistic-level detail into the rate- and stereoselectivity-determining steps for a class of reactions that is widely used in organic synthesis at both the laboratory and the industrial scale. 

Di and trisubstitued vinylphosphonates (361) have been employed as substrates in iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations in synthesis of Fosmidomycin analogues (362) by Andersson and co-workers (Scheme 82). Complete conversions and excellent stereoselectivity (up to and above 99% ee) were observed for a range of substrates with both aromatic and aliphatic groups at the prochiral carbon. 

---