Ten chiral iridium complexes were synthesized from (R)-(+) or (S)-(-)-2, 2'-diamino-1, 1'-binaphthyl (DABN) and [Ir(COD)Cl]2 (COD=1, 5-cyclooctadiene). The complexes were used as enantioselective catalysts in the asymmetric hydrogen transfer reactions of acetophenone. All the catalysts have high activity and selectivity and the highest optical yield was up to 84%.

Key words: ACETOPHENONE, SCHIFF BASE, IRIDIUM COMPLEX, ISOPROPANOL, CATALYTIC REACTION, PHOTOINDUCED