ASYMMETRIC SYNTHESIS BY CHIRAL RUTHENIUM COMPLEXES. IV. REDUCTION OF CARBON-CARBON DOUBLE BONDS IN PROCHIRAL α,β-UNSATURATED CARBOXYLIC ACIDS BY HYDROGEN TRANSFER CATALYSED BY H4Ru4(CO)82

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-328X(00)93317-5

The enantioface-discriminating hydrogen transfer reduction of α,β-unsaturated acids takes place at 120 deg C in the presence of H4Ru4(CO)8<(-)-DIOP>2.Secondary alcohols are satisfactory hydrogen donors.Selectivity, optical yields, and rates are lower than those obtained when working in the presence of hydrogen under pressure.