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The reaction of isoxazolidines and carbon monoxide in dry benzene under the catalysis of rhodium and iridium complexes was investigated. The experiment, which involved the introduction of carbon monoxide into the isoxazolidine ring, revealed several unexpected reactions such as reduction, methyl migration and molecular rearrangement. Generally, rhodium-catalyzed reactions produced tetrahydro-1,3-oxazin-2-ones whereas iridium complexes transformed 3-arylisoxazolidines to tetrahydro-1,3-oxazines.

A novel, indirect procedure for synthesizing chiral esters of (E)-3-(silyloxy)-2-propenylboronic acid through the iridium-promoted isomerization of the double bond was described. The effectiveness of the technique was confirmed by an asymmetric allylboration of the representative aldehydes with (gamma-(silyloxy)allyl)boronic esters to produce the anti-1,2-diol. The cationic iridium compound derived via hydrogenation of (Ir(cod)(PPh(sub 2)Me)(sub 2))PF(sub 6) was found to be an outstanding catalyst for the isomerization of different 3-(silyloxy)-1-propenylboronates under mild conditions.

A study was conducted to analyze the synthesis of a novel type of rhodium or iridium complex supporting a structure isoelectronic with the chiral ruthenium complex. The complexes were proven to effectively catalyze the asymmetric hydrogen transfer of aromatic ketones in 2-propanol containing a base. Results indicated that asymmetric reduction correlates with the action of the hydride or amide comlex as the catalyst or intermediate.