LETTER	Synlett 2006: 1169-1172   DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-932461
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of α-Keto Esters Catalyzed by Ru-Tunephos Complexes
Chun-Jiang Wang, Xianfeng Sun, Xumu Zhang*
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA Fax: +1(814)8638403; e-Mail: xumu@chem.psu.edu;
Received 25 October 2005

Abstract

Various enantiomerically pure α-hydroxy esters were synthesized by asymmetric hydrogenation of α-keto esters catalyzed by Ru-C_n-Tunephos complex. Up to 97.1% ee has been achieved for both α-aryl and α-alkyl substituted α-keto esters.

Key words

asymmetric catalysis - enantioselectivity - ruthenium - hydrogenation - α-keto esters