More than 1000 yields and ee determinations are possible per day using an immunoassay. This highly efficient screening method is based on the remarkable binding specificity of antibodies. It has been employed in the development of straightforward procedures for the direct conversion of α‐keto acids into chiral α‐hydroxy acids, for which the enantioselective reduction of benzoyl formic acid to mandelic acid serves as a model reaction (see scheme).

CF3 -substituted 1,3-diols were stereoselectively prepared in excellent enantiopurity and high yield from CF3 -substituted diketones by using an ansa-ruthenium(II)-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation in formic acid/triethylamine. The intermediate mono-reduced alcohol was also obtained in very high enantiopurity by applying milder reaction conditions. In particular, CF3 C(O)-substituted benzofused cyclic ketones underwent either a single or a double dynamic kinetic resolution during their reduction.

[Structure: see text] The asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of fluoroalkyl ketones mediated by [Ru(eta6-arene)((S,S)-R2NSO2DPEN)] catalysts using HCO2H-Et3N afforded the corresponding alcohols with high ee's and in excellent yields.

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published as an Advance Article on the web 13th November 2001 b-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)serine methyl ester was obtained in high diastereomeric and enantiomeric excesses under transfer hydrogenation using chiral Ru(h 6 -arene)-N-perfluorosulfonyl-1,2-diamine catalysts.