Highly Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Steric Hindrance Enones Catalyzed by Ru Complexes with Chiral Diamine and Achiral Phosphane

An asymmetric hydrogenation of sterically hindered beta,beta-disubstituted enones has been well-established by using a ruthenium complex composed of an achiral diphosphane and a chiral diamine as catalyst, wherein the carbonyl group was selectively hydrogenated to give a wide range of chiral allylic alcohols with high levels of enantioselectivity and complete chemoselectivity.