Ruthenium-catalyzed tandem-isomerization/asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of allylic alcohols

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/chem.201405207

A one-pot procedure for the direct conversion of racemic allylic alcohols to enantiomerically enriched saturated alcohols is presented. The tandem-isomerization/ asymmetric transfer hydrogenation process is efficiently catalyzed by [{Ru(p-cymene)Cl₂}₂] in combination with the a-amino acid hydroxyamide ligand 1, and performed under mild conditions in a mixture of ethanol and THF. The saturated alcohol products are isolated in good to excellent chemical yields and in enantiomeric excess up to 93%.