TY - JOUR AU - De Luca, Lorena AU - Mezzetti, Antonio PY - 2018/04/25 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Base-free Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of 1,2-Di- and Monoketones Catalyzed by a Chiral Iron(II) Hydride JF - CHIMIA JA - Chimia VL - 72 IS - 4 SE - Scientific Articles DO - 10.2533/chimia.2018.233 UR - https://www.chimia.ch/chimia/article/view/2018_233 SP - 233 AB - The chiral iron(II) hydride complex [FeH(CNCEt3)(1a)](BF4) (3, 1a is a chiral macrocycle with an (NH)2P2 donor set) catalyzes the base-free transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of prochiral ketones and the hemireduction of benzils to the corresponding benzoins using iPrOH as hydrogen donor. Ketones give the same excellent enantio-selectivity (up to 99% ee) as the parent catalyst [Fe(CNCEt3)2(1a)](BF4)2 (2), which is only active upon treatment with NaOtBu. Benzoins, whose labile stereocenter is known to undergo racemization under basic conditions, are formed in up to 83% isolated yield with enantioselectivity as high as 95%. ER -