Pyrazine-based hydrophilic phosphanes are useful ligands for the ruthenium-and rhodium- catalyzed hydrogenations of acetophenone under hydride transfer and dihydrogen conditions. The effect of alcohol additives on the catalytic, enantioselective aqueous hydrogenation of acetophenone is examined with the newly developed (R, R)-DAMPYPHOS as the ligand and Rh2 (norbornadiene) 2Cl2 as the catalyst precursor, giving rise to ...