Iron-catalyzed highly enantioselective reduction of aromatic ketones with chiral P 2N 4-type macrocycles

Abstract

Novel P 2N 4-donors containing chiral 22-membered macrocyclic ligands have been synthesized and the structures have been determined by an X-ray diffraction study. The catalytic systems in situ generated from triiron dodecarbonyl, Fe 3(CO) 12, and the chiral macrocyclic ligand exhibited high activity (TOF up to 1940 h -1) and excellent enantioselectivity with up to 99% ee in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various aromatic ketones. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.