Homogeneous Catalysts and Ketone Hydrogenation

Enantiopure alcohols can be produced using chiral hydrogenation catalysts for the reduction of ketones. A major breakthrough in this area was achieved in the mid-1980s by Takaya and Noyori, following the initial work of Ikariya s group 

There is consensus that the transfer of the two H atoms occurs in a concerted manner as depicted in Fig. 3.33 [91-94]. This hypothesis explains the need for an N-H moiety in the ligand. 

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