Asymmetric hydrogenation of aromatic ketones catalyzed by the TolBINAP/DMAPEN-ruthenium(II) complex: a significant effect of N-substituents of chiral 1,2-diamine ligands on enantioselectivity.

ABSTRACT

Asymmetric hydrogenation of acetophenone in the presence of Ru(II) catalysts coordinated by TolBINAP and a series of chiral 1,2-diamines was studied. The sense and degree of enantioselectivity were highly dependent on the N-substituents of the diamine ligands. The N-substituent effect was discussed in detail. Among these catalysts, the (S)-TolBINAP/(R)-DMAPEN-Ru(II) complex showed the highest enantioselectivity. The mode of enantioface selection was interpreted by using transition state models based on the X-ray structure of the catalyst precursor. The chiral catalyst effected the hydrogenation of alkyl aryl ketones and arylglyoxal dialkyl acetals to afford the chiral alcohol in >99% ee in the best cases. Hydrogenation of racemic benzoin methyl ether with the chiral catalyst through dynamic kinetic resolution gave the anti-alcohol (synanti = 397) in 98% ee, while the reaction of alpha-amidopropiophenones resulted in the syn-alcohols (synanti = 964 to >991) in >98% ee.