[2,2′-Dimethyl-6,6′-bis(diphenylphosphino)biphenyl](triphenylphosphine)-dichlororuthenium(II): an enantioselective catalyst for the hydrogenation of diketones

Abstract

The novel species [RuCl₂(PPh₃){(S)-biphemp}]1 and [RuH(η²-BH₄)(PPh₃){(S)-biphemp}]3[biphemp = 2,2′-dimethyl-6,6′-bis(diphenylphosphino)biphenyl] have been synthesized; 1 has a labile triphenylphosphine ligand and is a very active and enantioselective catalyst for the mono- or bis-hydrogenation of pentane-2,4-dione.