A new polyethylene glycol supported Ru catalyst was synthesized and applied in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various aromatic ketones in water with high chemical yields and enantioselectivities without adding any surfactants. The catalyst could be easily recycled several times without a significant loss of enantioselectivity and activity.
[Brinner, Kristin M; Mi Kim, Jin; Habashita, Hiromu; Gluzman, Ilya Y; Goldberg, Daniel E; Ellman, Jonathan A Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 2002 , vol. 10, # 11 p. 3649 - 3661]
