ASYMMETRIC CATALYSIS BY CHIRAL PHOSPHINE COBALT CARBONYL COMPLEXES, HYDROGENATION OF α,β-UNSATURATED KETONES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(85)80015-2

Hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated ketones catalysed by cobalt complexes was carried out in the presence of chiral phosphine ligands (P(C6H5)2 neomenthyl and P(C6H5)2-6-deoxo-1,2:3,4-diisopropylidene-D-galactose) to give the corresponding optically active ketones.The nature of the ligand and the olefin were the primary factors controlling asymmetric induction.The highest induction efficiencies, up to 16percent e.e., were obtained in the hydrogenation of isophorone.The presence of carbon monoxide (10 atm) resulted in racemic products.