Enantioselective hydrogenation of b-keto esters is a well-established procedure to produce chiral b-hydroxy esters in high optical purity [1][2][3][4]. Many important biologically active compounds have been synthesized through this procedure, even on a commercial scale [1][2][3][4]. Ru complexes [5] bearing appropriate chiral phosphine ligands [6][7][8] provide excellent catalytic efficiency for this reaction. Certain chiral Rh catalysts [3,4] and heterogeneous Ni catalysts [9] are also utilized. The recent development of the chiral diphosphine/diamine-Ru catalyst enables rapid and stereoselective hydrogenation of simple ketones without a hetero-atom functionality close to the carbonyl group [2,4]. These enantioselective transformations are summarized in the present chapter.
Chiral LigandsIn enantioselective hydrogenation of ketonic substrates, the excellent catalytic performance such as high turnover number (TON), turnover frequency (TOF = -TON h -1 or s -1 ), and enantioselectivity is achievable only when (pre)catalysts are prepared by the appropriate combination of metal species and chiral ligands [6-8, 10, 11]. Stereo-repulsive interaction between substituents of ligands and substrates is normally utilized for the regulation of stereochemistry. The metal and ligand must be carefully selected because of the diversity of substrate structures [1][2][3][4][5]. Chiral diphosphine ligands with a C 2 symmetry (see Fig. 32.1) have played a main role in this respect. Recently, however, various effective C 1 phosphine ligands as well as phosphinite ligands have been developed, the structures of which are illustrated in Figures 32.2 and 32.3, respectively. Chiral amine and imine ligands (Fig. 32.4) are also useful, particularly when they are coupled with a chiral diphosphine ligand in the hydrogenation of simple ketones [2,4,5]. Immobilized BINAPs are detailed in Figure 32.5.