Synthesis 2015; 47(04): 460-471
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1378939
short review
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Recent Advances in the Development of Chiral Metal Catalysts for the Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Ketones

Jian-Hua Xie*
State Key Laboratory and Institute of Elemento-organic Chemistry, Nankai University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300071, P. R. of China   Email: jhxie@nankai.edu.cn
,
Deng-Hui Bao
State Key Laboratory and Institute of Elemento-organic Chemistry, Nankai University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300071, P. R. of China   Email: jhxie@nankai.edu.cn
,
Qi-Lin Zhou
State Key Laboratory and Institute of Elemento-organic Chemistry, Nankai University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300071, P. R. of China   Email: jhxie@nankai.edu.cn
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 07 October 2014

Accepted after revision: 03 November 2014

Publication Date:
21 November 2014 (online)


Abstract

This review describes recent advances in the development of chiral metal catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones to give chiral alcohols, important building blocks for biologically active substances such as pharmaceuticals and natural products. Chiral ruthenium–diphosphine/diamine complexes have received intensive study and many efficient chiral ruthenium catalysts bearing chiral diphosphine and diamine ligands have been developed over the past few decades. In addition, chiral ruthenium, iridium, osmium, iron, copper, and palladium complexes with various chiral ligands have also emerged as highly efficient chiral metal catalysts for the asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones. A wide range of ketones are hydrogenated using these chiral metal catalysts to give chiral alcohols with excellent enantioselectivity with high turnover numbers (TONs) and turnover frequencies (TOFs).

1 Introduction

2 Chiral Ruthenium Catalysts

3 Chiral Iridium Catalysts

4 Other Chiral Metal Catalysts

5 Conclusion and Outlook