Homogeneous Hydrogenation Mechanisms

This lecture delves into the mechanistic differences between neutral Wilkinson's catalyst and cationic catalysts in the context of homogeneous hydrogenation of olefins. It explores the two major mechanistic regimes, 'hydrogen first' and 'olefin-first', followed by a discussion on advantageous properties of a specific catalyst. The lecture also covers the potential of Rh(triphos)Cl as a hydrogenation catalyst for alkenes and the concept of asymmetric hydrogenation using chiral transition metal complexes. Various bidentate chiral phosphines are examined for their role in achieving high enantioselectivity in hydrogenation reactions, leading to the development of a commercialized asymmetric process. The lecture concludes with an overview of different chiral ligands and their impact on metal-catalyzed reactions.