Chiral catalyst development is a key to asymmetric catalysis research. The enantioselectivity of a chiral catalyst relies on its ability to distinguish the prochiral centres or faces of substrates, which is difficult when the two groups attached to the centre or face are spatially and electronically similar. For example, dialkyl ketones are difficult to reduce enantioselectively. Here we report a protocol for the highly enantioselective hydrogenation of dialkyl ketones catalysed by a rationally designed chiral spiro iridium complex. The tridentate spiro structure and the bulky phosphino groups of the chiral ligand imparted a remarkable stability and enantioselectivity to the catalyst. The protocol is highly efficient for generating chiral aliphatic alcohols, and has potential for a wide application in pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals.

手性催化剂的开发是不对称催化研究的关键。手性催化剂的对映选择性取决于其区分底物的前手性中心或表面的能力，这在连接至中心或表面的两个基团在空间和电子上相似时是困难的。例如，二烷基酮难以对映选择性地还原。在这里，我们报告由合理设计的手性螺铱铱配合物催化的二烷基酮的高度对映选择性氢化的协议。手性配体的三齿螺旋结构和庞大的膦基使催化剂具有显着的稳定性和对映选择性。该协议对于生成手性脂族醇非常高效，并且在制药和精细化学品中具有广泛的应用潜力。