Enantioselective hydrogenation reactions with a full set of preformed and prepared in situ chiral diphosphine-ruthenium (II) catalysts.

Abstract

The new class of 2-methylallyl ruthenium chiral diphosphines 1 are efficient in asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β unsaturated acids and allylic alcohols. The related chiral halogen-containing ruthenium catalysts 2 are prepared from 1 or in situ from (COD)Ru(η) 3-(CH 2) 2CHCH 3) 2 by ligand exchange with the chelating diphosphine followed by protonation (HX) in acetone. This procedure allows rapid screening of chiral phosphines, such as Diop, Chiraphos, Cbd, Bppm, Binap, β-glucophos, Biphemp, MeO-Biphep, Me-Duphos, in ruthenium mediated hydrogenations of prochiral substrates. A high efficiency is displayed by Ru-catalysts having atropisomeric ligands (e.e. up to 99%), and a C 2 symmetric bis(phospholane) has also emerged as a valuable ligand (Me-Duphos, e.e. up to 87% not optimized). Asymmetric hydrogenation of β-keto esters can be conducted under quite mild conditions (4 atm. of H 2, 50°C, e.e. up to 99%), β-keto esters having a disubstituted double bond are also hydrogenated chemoselectively to unsaturated chiral alcohols under controlled conditions with excellent optical purities.