Efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic secondary alcohols by a chemoenzymatic system using bifunctional iridium complexes with C-N chelate amido ligands.

The combined catalyst system of bifunctional amidoiridium complexes derived from benzylic amines with CALB was found to provide a range of chiral acetates from racemic secondary alcohols in excellent yields with nearly perfect enantioselectivities via dynamic kinetic resolution. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012