Asymmetric hydrogenation of α-ketoesters over finely dispersed polymer-stabilized platinum clusters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)00088-4

Finely dispersed polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized platinum clusters (PVP-Pt) modified with cinchonidine catalyze the asymmetric hydrogenation of α-ketoesters, giving enantiomeric excesses in favour of R-(+)-methyl lactate up to 97.6%. The reaction is demonstrated to be structure insensitive and runs best over a tiny cluster with a mean size of 1.4 nm, which is quite different from conventional supported catalysts.