Highly enantioselective hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation of cycloalkyl and heterocyclic ketones catalysed by an iridium complex of a tridentate phosphine-diamine ligand.

Ir complexes of chiral phosphine-diamine ligands catalyse the hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation of aryl-piperidin-4-yl methanones, and ketones bearing both an aryl group and secondary alkyl substituent with up to 98% e.e., and with substrate to catalyst ratios of up to 4000.