Ir/Rh-catalyzed hydrogenation of squalene: access to stereoregular squalane

Catalytic stereoselective hydrogenation of unfunctionalized polyenes remains a major challenge because multiple stereogenic centers must be generated in the absence of directing groups. Here we investigate squalene, a flexible hydrocarbon containing six isolated trisubstituted double bonds, as a demanding substrate for assessing stereochemical bias in the complete hydrogenation of an unfunctionalized polyene. Evaluation of Rh- and Ir-based homogeneous catalysts identified one Ir-P,N complex that promotes complete conversion to squalane while inducing a highly non-statistical diastereomeric distribution, reaching up to 90% d.e. The stereochemical outcome was quantified directly by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy of crude reaction mixtures, without derivatization or chromatographic separation. Buried-volume analysis was used to compare the steric environment of the selective Ir catalyst with representative non-selective systems, providing a qualitative interpretation of the observed behaviour. To our knowledge, this work provides the first catalytic access to stereoregular squalane and establishes a practical NMR-based approach to evaluate stereochemical bias in hydrogenated isoprenoid hydrocarbons.