A stereochemically well-defined rhodium(III) catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones

Org Lett. 2005 Nov 24;7(24):5489-91. doi: 10.1021/ol052559f.

Abstract

[reaction: see text] A rhodium(III) catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones has been designed. The incorporation of a tethering group between the diamino group and the cyclopentadienyl unit provides extra stereochemical rigidity. The catalyst is capable of enantioselective reduction of a range of ketones in excellent ee using formic acid/triethylamine as both the solvent and the reducing agent.