Asymmetric hydrogenation of acetophenone catalyzed by chiral Ru complex in mesoporous material supported ionic liquid

The chiral Ru complex was successfully immobilized inside the channels of four kinds of mesoporous materials with a method based on supported ionic liquid system. The prepared heterogeneous catalysts exhibited high activity and enantioselectivity in the asymmetric hydrogenation of acetophenone. Furthermore, these catalysts were stable and could be recycled at least four times without noticeable decrease in catalytic activity. And the SiO2-supported catalyst exhibited the best stability. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.