Double asymmetric hydrogenation of conjugated dienes catalysed by ruthenium binap complexes
Abstract
Buta-1,3-diene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid is smoothly hydrogenated in the presence of a ruthenium–(R)-binap complex as a catalyst via two consecutive 1,2-hydrogen additions, giving rise to (S,S)-2,3-dimethylsuccinic acid with 98% diastereoisomeric excess and 96% enantiomeric excess.