Ru-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated ketones via a hydrogenation/isomerization cascade

Ru-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of alpha-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones has been developed for the enantioselective synthesis of chiral alpha-substituted secondary alcohols with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to >99 : 1 dr, 98% ee). Mechanistic experiments suggest that the reaction proceeds via a Ru-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the C=O bond in concert with a base-promoted allylic alcohol isomerization, and the final stereoselectivities were controlled by a DKR process during the asymmetric hydrogenation of the ketone intermediate.