Iridium Catalysed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Pyridines

Abstract: This thesis presents the hydrogenation of substituted pyridines using N,P-ligated iridium catalystsin homogeneous media. These iridium catalysts were developed within this research group in thepast decade. This method of hydrogenation is highly stereoselective, and in several cases good to excellent ees were obtained.The hydrogenation of substituted pyridines was studied: by screening for the catalyst giving thehighest conversion and ee, by optimising the reaction conditions and by attempting to improve existingcatalysts. New substrates were synthesised for this process, in particular alkyl substituted Nprotectedpyridines. Their reduction provided chiral piperidines, which could be used as chiralbuilding blocks once deprotected.