Amines as ligands in the transfer hydrogenation catalysts

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(89)87358-9

Rhpy3Cl3 (py = pyridine) has been found to be a versatile catalyst in selective transfer hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated ketones to saturated ketones, dienes to monoenes, acetylenes to olefins, and Schiff bases to amines.With catalytic systems formed "in situ" from RhCl3*xH2O and chiral monodentate amines such as R,S(-)-ephedrine, enantioselective reduction of ketones takes place but the optical yields are rather low.