Recent Developments in the Area of Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation

Abstract

The use of an enantiomerically pure amino alcohol, coupled to a transfer hydrogenation process, in the asymmetric catalysis of the reduction of ketones to alcohols, is described. The process works well for unfunctionalised ketones, affording e.e.s of up to 98%, and excellent conversions. We have recently extended, for the first time in this application, the scope of the methodology to the reductions of a-heteroatom substituted substrates, through the use of the appropriate protecting groups on each atom.

Keywords

• asymmetric
• transfer
• hydrogenation
• catalysis
• ruthenium