Starting from bromo/iodobenzaldehyde derivatives, the corresponding (Z)- and (E)-(2-stilbenyl)­methanols could be prepared in 2–5 steps via Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions (Sonogashira and Heck reactions) followed by aryllithium/aryl Grignard addition. For the (E)-stilbenes, subsequent acid-mediated cyclization using p-TsOH immobilized on silica (PTS-Si) at low temperatures furnished the 2,3-trans-1-indanols with complete stereocontrol at the C2–C3. Further oxidization of the alcohol provided the indanones, which are structurally related to the natural product paucifloral F. At higher temperatures, 1,2- and 2,3-disubstituted indenes could be selectively prepared in good to excellent yields. On the other hand, the (Z)-stilbenes, under similar conditions (PTS-Si), did not give the indanols; only the 1,2-disubstituted indenes could be obtained. To gain further insights into the stereochemistry at C2–C3 for the (Z)-stilbenes, hydride or azide was employed as a nucleophile; the corresponding indane products were obtained with the cis stereochemistry at the C2–C3. Thus, the (Z)- or (E)-olefin geometry of the substrate directed the stereoselective indanyl cyclization to furnish the cis or trans at the C2–C3 ring junction, respectively, while reaction conditions controlled the selectivity of the product types.

Asymmetric hydrogenation of conjugated enones is one of the most efficient and straightforward methods to prepare optically active ketones. In this study, chiral bidentate Ir–N,P complexes were utilized to access these scaffolds for ketones bearing the stereogenic center at both the α- and β-positions. Excellent enantiomeric excesses, of up to 99%, were obtained, accompanied with good to high isolated yields. Challenging dialkyl substituted substrates, which are difficult to hydrogenate with satisfactory chiral induction, were hydrogenated in a highly enantioselective fashion.

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Asymmetric hydrogenation is one of the most commonly used tools in organic synthesis, whereas, kinetic resolution via asymmetric hydrogenation was less developed.