Catalytic Enantioselective Desymmetrization of Meso Cyclic Anhydrides via Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation

A novel method to desymmetrize meso-anhydrides into lactones via asymmetric hydrogenation catalyzed by the Ir–C3*-TunePhos complex has been developed. Various chiral lactones were synthesized with full conversion and excellent enantioselectivity under high reaction temperature.