Journal of the American Chemical Society 2006-02-01

An efficient catalyst system for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones: remarkably broad substrate scope.

Manfred T Reetz, Xiaoguang Li

Index: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128 , 1044, (2006)

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Abstract

A BINOL-derived diphosphonite having a xanthene backbone is an excellent bidentate ligand in Ru-catalyzed 2-propanol-based transfer hydrogenation of aryl/alkyl and alkyl/alkyl ketones (ee = 76-99%). Even notoriously difficult ketones such as isopropyl methyl ketone are reduced with extraordinarily high enantioselectivity (ee = 99%).