The kinetics of enantioselective hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate using a modified Raney nickel catalyst

The kinetics of enantioselective hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate using Raney nickel modified by (2R,3R)-(+)-tartaric acid were studied, thereby focusing on the effects of the reaction conditions on the enantioselectivity. Reactions were carried out in a liquid phase under atmospheric and increased hydrogen pressure. The reaction course was described by the exponential kinetics model and by Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics assuming the existence of two types of active sites on the catalyst surface, selective and non-selective. Using Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics, the acquired parameters were used for discussion of the effects of the reaction conditions on the enantioselectivity and the mechanism of the enantioselective hydrogenation.