Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Steric HindranceEnones Catalyzed by Ru Complexes with Chiral Diamine and Achiral Phosphane.

An asymmetric hydrogenation of stericallyhindered β,β-disubstitutedenones has been well-established by using a ruthenium complex composedof an achiral diphosphane and a chiral diamine as catalyst, whereinthe carbonyl group was selectively hydrogenated to give a wide rangeof chiral allylic alcohols with high levels of enantioselectivityand complete chemoselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]