Durability enhancement of chirally modified metallic nickel catalysts for enantioselective hydrogenation

Abstract

Metallic Ni catalysts co-modified with ( R,R )-tartaric acid and NaBr showed high enantioselectivity and durability upon hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate to give methyl 3-hydroxybutyrate. The chirally modified catalyst prepared from 3-μm Ni powder was highly robust to maintain the hydrogenation activity and enantiodifferentiating ability for ca. 3 months under dry condition, which enables long-term storage and hence facilitates commercial distribution and industrial application. ► Metallic 3-μm nickel powder catalyst modified with ( R,R )-tartaric acid and NaBr. ► Modified catalyst afforded up to 84% ee in the hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate. ► The dried catalyst was robust and kept the high enantioselectivity for 84 days.