A highly efficient enantioselective hydrogenation of 1,2-dicyanoalkenes catalyzed by the complex of rhodium and f-spiroPhos has been developed. A series of 1,2-dicyanoalkenes were successfully hydrogenated to the corresponding chiral 1,2-dicyanoalkanes under mild conditions with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). This methodology provides efficient access to the asymmetric synthesis of chiral diamines.

A highly enantioselective hydrogenation of cyclic imines for synthesis of chiral cyclic amines has been realized. With the complex of iridium and (R,R)-f-spiroPhos as the catalyst, a range of cyclic 2-aryl imines were smoothly hydrogenated under mild conditions without any additive to provide the corresponding chiral cyclic amines with excellent enantioselectivities of up to 98% ee. Moreover, this method could be successfully applied to the synthesis of (+)-(6S,10bR)-McN-4612-Z.

A highly efficient kinetic resolution of racemic 2-substituted 1,2-dihydroquinolines via asymmetric Cu-catalyzed borylation has been realized for the first time. Under mild conditions, a variety of chiral 3-boryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines containing two vicinal stereogenic centers as well as the recovered 2-substituted 1,2-dihydroquinolines were afforded after 30 minutes in high yields with up to 99% ee (dr > 99 : 1) and over 98% ee values, respectively, corresponding to kinetic selectivity factors of up to 569. Moreover, this protocol was successfully applied to the asymmetric synthesis of a selective estrogen receptor modulator.

A highly efficient and enantioselective hydrogenation of β-aryloxy/alkoxy cinnamic nitriles and esters under mild conditions has been realized by using a rhodium catalyst with a chiral f-spiroPhos ligand. The method provides efficient access to the asymmetric synthesis of a variety of chiral β-oxy-functionalized nitriles and esters with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.9% ee) and high turnover numbers (TON of up to 50000). This methodology has also been successfully applied to the concise and practical synthesis of the chiral pharmaceutical nisoxetine.

A highly efficient and enantioselective synthesis of γ-lactams and γ-amino acids by Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation has been developed. Using the Rh-(S,S)-f-spiroPhos complex, under mild conditions a wide range of 3-cyano acrylate esters including both E and Z-isomers and β-cyano-α-aryl-α,β-unsaturated ketones were first hydrogenated with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) and high turnover numbers (TON up to 10000).

A highly efficient Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated nitriles containing ester/amide groups has been developed. Under mild conditions, with a complex of rhodium and (S,S)-f-spiroPhos as the catalyst, a variety of α,β-unsaturated nitriles bearing an ester or amide group were successfully hydrogenated to the corresponding chiral nitriles with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.7% ee) and high turnover numbers (TON = 10000). Furthermore, this catalyst system was also successfully applied to the synthesis of important chiral pharmacophore fragments, lactams, Paroxetine and amino acids.

An enantioselective hydrogenation of N-substituted diarylmethanimines under mild conditions has been first realized by using an iridium catalyst with a chiral f-spiroPhos ligand. This method provides an efficient access to the asymmetric synthesis of a variety of chiral diarylmethylamines and their derivatives with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.4% ee) and high turnover numbers (TON up to 4000).

An additive-free enantioselective hydrogenation of β,β-disubstituted unsaturated carboxylic acids catalyzed by the Rh–(R,R)-f-spiroPhos complex has been developed. Under mild conditions, a wide scope of β,β-disubstituted unsaturated carboxylic acids were hydrogenated to the corresponding chiral carboxylic acids with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.3% ee). This methodology was also successfully applied to the synthesis of the pharmaceutical molecule indatraline.

A highly efficient enantioselective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated nitriles catalyzed by Rh-(R,R)-f-spiroPhos complex has been developed. With Rh-(R,R)-f-spiroPhos catalyst and under mild conditions, a wide range of α,β-unsaturated nitriles including the (E)- and (Z)-isomers of 3-alkyl-3-aryl, 3,3-diaryl, and 3,3-dialkyl α,β-unsaturated nitriles were hydrogenated to the corresponding chiral nitriles with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.9% ee) and high turnover numbers (TON up to 10,000).

The first highly efficient Ir-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of β-acylamino nitroolefins is reported. This reaction provides straightforward access to chiral β-amino nitroalkanes in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99.9% ee) catalyzed by an Ir-(R,R)-f-spiroPhos complex.

A highly enantioselective hydrogenation of cyclic imines for synthesis of chiral cyclic amines has been realized. With the complex of iridium and (R,R)-f-spiroPhos as the catalyst, a range of cyclic 2-aryl imines were smoothly hydrogenated under mild conditions without any additive to provide the corresponding chiral cyclic amines with excellent enantioselectivities of up to 98% ee. Moreover, this method could be successfully applied to the synthesis of (+)-(6S,10bR)-McN-4612-Z.

The first highly efficient Ir-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of β-acylamino nitroolefins is reported. This reaction provides straightforward access to chiral β-amino nitroalkanes in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99.9% ee) catalyzed by an Ir-(R,R)-f-spiroPhos complex.

A highly efficient Rh-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated nitriles containing ester/amide groups has been developed. Under mild conditions, with a complex of rhodium and (S,S)-f-spiroPhos as the catalyst, a variety of α,β-unsaturated nitriles bearing an ester or amide group were successfully hydrogenated to the corresponding chiral nitriles with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.7% ee) and high turnover numbers (TON = 10000). Furthermore, this catalyst system was also successfully applied to the synthesis of important chiral pharmacophore fragments, lactams, Paroxetine and amino acids.

A highly efficient and enantioselective synthesis of γ-lactams and γ-amino acids by Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation has been developed. Using the Rh-(S,S)-f-spiroPhos complex, under mild conditions a wide range of 3-cyano acrylate esters including both E and Z-isomers and β-cyano-α-aryl-α,β-unsaturated ketones were first hydrogenated with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) and high turnover numbers (TON up to 10000).