Comparison of cationic rhodium and iridium complexes in directed homogeneous hydrogenation

The hydrogenation of $\text{endo}$-6-methylenebicyclo2,2,2]octan-2-ol catalysed by a range of rhodium and iridium complexes has been investigated. Unlike the corresponding $\text{exo}$-alcohol, reduction is highly stereoselective leading to 95 – 99.7% of $\text{endo}$-exo-6-methylbicyclo2,2,2]octan-2-ol. Selectivity is much less pronounced for the corresponding methyl ether. Rhodium catalysts promote a competitive isomerisation of the double bond to $\text{endo}$-6-methyl-bicyclo2,2,2]oct-5-en-2-ol, of which an authentic sample was reduced in high yield to pure $\text{exo}$-$\text{endo}$ product. Reduction of both $\text{endo}$-hydroxy substrates by iridium complexes is rapid and highly selective.NMR studies employing europium shift reagents played a central part in defining the stereochemical interrelationships of 2,6-disubstituted bicyclo2,2,2]octanes.