(β-Amino alcohol)(arene)ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Functionalized Ketones − Scope, Isolation of the Catalytic Intermediates, and Deactivation Processes

Abstract

The asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of functionalized ketones with (β-amino alcohol)(arene)RuII catalysts using 2-propanol as the hydrogen source has been studied. The structure of the catalyst has been systematically screened using a wide variety of [(η6-arene)RuCl2]2 complexes and β-amino alcohols R1CH(OH)CHR2NHR3, some of which were specifically designed for optimized performance, e.g. (1S,2R)-N-(4-biphenylmethyl)norephedrine (9o). The efficiencies of the catalytic combinations have been evaluated in the reduction of β-oxo esters and ketones bearing heteroatoms at the α-position. The catalyst precursor [{η6-p-cymene}{η2-N,O-(9o)}RuCl] (35), the 16-electron true catalyst [{η6-p-cymene}{η2-N,O-(9o1−)}Ru] (36), and the hydride [{η6-p-cymene}{η2-N,O-(9o)}RuH] (37) involved in the reduction process have been isolated, characterized by NMR and ESI-MS, as well as by X-ray crystallography in the case of 35, and their reactivities have been investigated. The results reveal two general trends regarding this catalytic process: (1) the apparent reaction rate and the enantioselectivity are largely controlled by the nature of the amine functionality of the chiral ligand and the arene ring of the RuII precursor; (2) side reactions occur between the ketone substrate and the active catalytic species that affect the concentration of the latter and consequently the apparent rate; the formation of inactive (β-diketonato)RuII complexes is demonstrated in the case of β-oxo esters.