title: Highly enantioselective hydrogenation of 1-alkylvinyl benzoates: a simple, nonenzymatic access to chiral 2-alkanols.
abstract: Going chiral! Highly enantioselective catalytic hydrogenations of enol esters 1 by using a Rh catalyst bearing a P-OP ligand are described (see scheme; NBD=norbornadiene). The catalytic system has a broad scope and allows the preparation of a wide range of chiral esters 2 bearing diverse alkyls or a benzyl group with high enantioselectivities. These esters can easily be converted in highly enantioenriched 2-alkanols.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas, CSIC and Universidad de Sevilla, Avda Américo Vespucio 49, 41092 Sevilla (Spain).
authors.forename: Patryk
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kleman
authors.forename: Pedro J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: González-Liste
authors.forename: Sergio E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: García-Garrido
authors.forename: Victorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cadierno
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pizzano
keywords: alcohols; asymmetric hydrogenation; enantioselectivity; esters; rhodium