Asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral carboxylic acids and functionalized carbonyl compounds catalysed by ruthenium(II)-binap complexes with aryl nitriles (binap=(R)- or (S)-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl)

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(92)83466-U

Complexes RuCl2(ArCN)2(binap), II (binap=(R)- or (S)-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl; ArCN=benzonitrile, a; 2-furancarbonitrile, b; pentafluorobenzonitrile, c) were prepared, and their solution properties were investigated by 31P NMR measurements.The catalytic aactivities and enantioselectivities for IIa-c catalysed hydrogenation of some prochiral acids were very similar to those provided by Ru2Cl4(binap)2(NEt3), I.In the hydrogenation of β-functionalized carbonyl compounds, however, IIa-c showed considerably lower activities and/or selectivities, compared with complex I.The differences in IIa-c catalysed reactions are discussed in relation to the coordinating abilities of ArCN in II.