Chiral ruthenabicyclic complexes: precatalysts for rapid, enantioselective, and wide-scope hydrogenation of ketones

A novel ruthenabicyclic complex with base shows excellent catalytic activity in the asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones. The turnover frequency of the hydrogenation of acetophenone reaches about 35,000 min(-1) in the best case, affording 1-phenylethanol in >99% ee. Several aliphatic and base-labile ketones are smoothly converted to the corresponding alcohols in high enantioselectivity. The catalytic cycle for this hydrogenation, in which the ruthenabicyclic structure of the catalyst is maintained, is proposed on the basis of the deuteration experiment and spectroscopic analysis data.