A palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of levulinic acid has been successful developed by using Zn(OTf)2 as co-catalyst. The present method not only has provided a strategy in the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of ketone, but also allowed the preparation of a wide range of chiral γ-valerolactones in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities.
Keywords: hydrogenation; ketone; levulinic acid; palladium; valerolactone.
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