Chemistry-informed deep learning model for predicting stereoselectivity and absolute configuration in asymmetric...

The asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins is one of the most important asymmetric transformations in molecular synthesis. While other machine learning models have successfully predicted stereoselectivity for reactions with a single prochiral site, existing models face limitations including narrow substrate-catalyst applicability, an inability to simultaneously predict stereoselectivity and absolute configurations in asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins with two prochiral sites, and a reliance on predefined descriptors. Here, to overcome these challenges, we introduce Chemistry-Informed Asymmetric Hydrogenation Network (ChemAHNet), a deep learning model based on the reaction mechanism of olefin asymmetric hydrogenation. By leveraging three structure-aware modules, ChemAHNet accurately predicts the absolute configuration of major enantiomers across diverse catalysts and substrates. It also defines the $\mathrm{\Delta \Delta }{G}^{‡}$ of asymmetric hydrogenation via catalyst-olefin interactions, enabling concurrent prediction of stereoselectivity and absolute configuration. Notably, ChemAHNet extends to other asymmetric catalytic reactions. By operating solely on simplified molecular-input line-entry system inputs, it captures atomic-level spatial and electronic interactions, offering a robust tool for target-directed molecular engineering.