Synthesis 2009(14): 2413-2417  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1216833
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Heteroaromatic Alcohols Catalyzed by Chiral Diaminodiphosphine-Ruthenium(II) Complexes

Wei-Yi Shen, Yan-Yun Li, Zhen-Rong Dong, Jing-Xing Gao*
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, P. R. of China
Fax: +86(592)2183047; e-Mail: cuihua@xmu.edu.cn;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 12 February 2009
Publication Date:
27 May 2009 (online)

Abstract

Chiral diaminodiphosphine-ruthenium(II) complexes were found to be excellent catalysts for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of heteroaromatic ketones in propan-2-ol. In the presence of potassium hydroxide, the enantioselective reduction of heteroaromatic ketones proceeded smoothly to give chiral alcohols with excellent enantiomeric excess (up to 97% ee) under mild conditions without reduction of the heterocycle.