Extremely High Enantioselective Redox Reaction of Ketones and Alcohols Catalyzed by RuCl₂(PPh₃)(oxazolinylferrocenylphosphine)

Abstract

The ruthenium complex RuCl2(PPh3)(oxazolinylferrocenylphosphine), 1, has been found to be a quite effective catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of not only alkyl aryl ketones but also alkyl methyl ketones with iPrOH. Asymmetric oxidation of racemic sec-alcohols with acetone via kinetic resolution by using the same catalyst 1 also proceeds with exteremely high enantioselectivity (>99.9% ee).