As an independent scientist at the University of Toronto, he developed a rational approach to chiral diphosphine ligands, the premier member being chiraphos. Unlike previous chiral ligands, the chirality of chiraphos arose from the backbone of the chelate. This concept underpins many of the C2-symmetrical ligands subsequently developed in asymmetric hydrogenation.[10][11][12] Other areas of research included hydroacylation catalysis and the development of ligands that mimic the spectroscopic properties of the blue copper proteins.[13]
Bosnich made many important contributions to inorganic and organometallic chemistry. A central theme of much of his research had been the stereochemistry of inorganic and organometallic complexes and of reactions mediated by such complexes. His design, synthesis and studies of the ligands, chiraphos and prophos, represent a major accomplishment and have contributed enormously to our understanding of the mechanisms of chiral recognition and asymmetric catalysis. Before his death, his research interests expanded to encompass the mechanistic aspects of a wide range of reactions, including allylic alkylations, metal catalysed Claisen rearrangements, hydroacylation and hydrosilation, as well as cooperative phenomena in binuclear metal complexes.[2]
^ abc"Professor Brice Bosnich FRS". London: royalsociety.org. Archived from the original on 20 June 2016. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from the royalsociety.org website where:
^Fryzuk, M. D.; Bosnich, B. (1977). "Asymmetric synthesis. Production of optically active amino acids by catalytic hydrogenation". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 99 (19): 6262–6267. doi:10.1021/ja00461a014. PMID893889.
^Fryzuk, M. D.; Bosnich, B. (1978). "Asymmetric synthesis. An asymmetric homogeneous hydrogenation catalyst which breeds its own chirality". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 100 (17): 5491–5494. doi:10.1021/ja00485a037.
^Fryzuk, M. D.; Bosnich, B. (1979). "Asymmetric synthesis. Preparation of chiral methyl chiral lactic acid by catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 101 (11): 3043–3049. doi:10.1021/ja00505a035.
^Amundsen, Alan R.; Whelan, John; Bosnich, B. (1977). "Biological analogs. Nature of the binding sites of copper-containing proteins". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 99 (20): 6730–6739. doi:10.1021/ja00462a042. PMID893902.