Polar Bond Hydrogenation Catalyzed by Iron Complexes Robert H. Morris, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto,

80 St George St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

We show in this work that certain soluble metal compounds based on iron are active catalysts for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones. This is significant because iron-based catalysts are potentially of lower cost, toxicity and environmental impact than those of platinum metals. Asymmetric hydrogenation allows the economical production of just the right- or left-handed alcohol desired as a fragrance or pharmaceutical intermediate.

Cat./KOtBuOH

R1 R2

HO H

R1

O

R2 +

O

+

Ketone:Catalyst:Base = 600:1:822 °C

TOF up to 3000 h-1

e.e.up to 96% ee

H

2+

PPh2

PPh2

N N

Fe

N

C

CPh

Ph

Me

* *

Cat. =

O