Giving a Second Chance to Ir/Sulfoximine-Based Catalysts for the Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Olefins Containing Poorly Coordinative Groups.

This work identifies a family of Ir/phosphite-sulfoximine catalysts that has been successfully used in the asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins with poorly coordinative or noncoordinative groups. In comparison with analogue Ir/phosphine-sulfoximine catalysts previously reported, the presence of a phosphite group extended the range of olefins than can be efficiently hydrogenated. High enantioselectivities, comparable to the best ones reported, have been achieved for a wide range of olefins containing relevant poorly coordinative groups such as α,β-unsaturated enones, esters, lactones, and lactams as well as alkenylboronic esters.