Heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis hydrogenation reactions

A spectacular, site-isolation effect in heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis was first reported by Pugin et al. The asymmetric hydrogenation of imine 1 is important for the commercial production of fS -metolachlor, a herbicide presently produced at >10000 tons per year. In this reaction, whereas homogeneous Ir-BPPM (2) catalyst prepared with [Ir(COD)Cl]2 was deactivated after 26% conversion (turnover frequency (TOP) min = 0), the covalently immobilized Ir catalysts, Si-PPM (3)-Ir, were much more active and productive (TOP min = up to 5.1 Scheme 2.1)... 

The enantioselective hydrogenation of prochiral substances bearing an activated group, such as an ester, an acid or an amide, is often an important step in the industrial synthesis of fine and pharmaceutical products. In addition to the hydrogenation of /5-ketoesters into optically pure products with Raney nickel modified by tartaric acid [117], the asymmetric reduction of a-ketoesters on heterogeneous platinum catalysts modified by cinchona alkaloids (cinchonidine and cinchonine) was reported for the first time by Orito and coworkers [118-121]. Asymmetric catalysis on solid surfaces remains a very important research area for a better mechanistic understanding of the interaction between the substrate, the modifier and the catalyst [122-125], although excellent results in terms of enantiomeric excesses (up to 97%) have been obtained in the reduction of ethyl pyruvate under optimum reaction conditions with these Pt/cinchona systems [126-128],... 

Pini, D., Petri, A., Mastantuono, A., Salvador , P. Heterogeneous enantioselective hydrogenation and dihydroxylation of carbon carbon double bond mediated by transition metal asymmetric catalysts. Chiral Reactions In Heterogeneous Catalysis, [Proceedings of the European Symposium on Chiral Reactions In Heterogeneous Catalysis], 1st, Brussels, Oct. 25-26, 1993 1995, 155-176. 

The desire to produce enantiomerically pure pharmaceuticals and other fine chemicals has advanced the field of asymmetric catalytic technologies. Since the independent discoveries of Knowles and Homer [1,2] the number of innovative asymmetric catalysis for hydrogenation and other reactions has mushroomed. Initially, nature was the sole provider of enantiomeric and diastereoisomeric compounds these form what is known as the chiral pool. This pool is comprised of relatively inexpensive, readily available, optically active natural products, such as carbohydrates, hydroxy acids, and amino acids, that can be used as starting materials for asymmetric synthesis [3,4]. Before 1968, early attempts to mimic nature s biocatalysis through noble metal asymmetric catalysis primarily focused on a heterogeneous catalyst that used chiral supports [5] such as quartz, natural fibers, and polypeptides. An alternative strategy was hydrogenation of substrates modified by a chiral auxiliary [6]. 

Asymmetric heterogeneous catalysis has been demonstrated by the enantioselec-tive and racemic hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate over Pt-Al203 catalyst. Higher reaction rate and enantioselectivity (75%) were observed in nonpolar solvent (toluene) whereas in a polar solvent (ethanol) they decreased substantially (Scheme 13.5) [58]. 

Tai, A. (2002) Asymmetrically modified nickel catalyst (MNi) a heterogeneous catalyst for the enantio-differentiating hydrogenation, Murray Raney plenary lecture in Chemical Industries Series Catalysis of organic reactions) (Dekker), Morrell D.G. (ed.). 

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