Asymmetric hydrogenation of heteroaromatic compounds mediated by iridium-(P-OP) complexes

A library of modular iridium complexes derived from P-OP ligands has been evaluated in iridium-mediated asymmetric hydrogenations of heteroaromatic compounds. The “lead” catalysts efficiently catalyzed the hydrogenation of several substituted quinolines and one quinoxaline (10 examples, up to 92% ee).