Heterogeneous enantioselective hydrogenation of activated ketones catalyzed by modified Pt-catalysts: A systematic structure-selectivity study

A systematic structure-selectivity study was carried out for the enantioselective hydrogenation of activated ketones with chirally modified Pt/Al2O3 catalysts. For this, 18 modifiers containing an extended aromatic system able to form a strong adsorption complex with the Pt surface, and a suitable chiral group with an amino function capable to interact with the keto group of the substrate (HCd, Qd, HCn, Qn, and semi-synthetic derivatives, as well as synthetic analogues) were prepared and tested on 8 different activated ketones in AcOH and toluene under standard conditions. It was found that relatively small structural changes of the substrate and/or modifier structures strongly affected the enantioselectivity, and that no "best" modifier exists for all substrates. The highest ees for all substrates were obtained with quinuclidine-derived modifiers in combination with naphthalene or quinoline rings, either in AcOH (substrates 1-5 and 8, all carrying an spa carbon next to the keto group) or toluene (6 and 7, with an sp(2) carbon next to the ketone). The presence and nature of the substituent R' at the quinuclidine significantly affected the ee (positive and negative effects). Certain combinations of an aromatic system and an amino function were preferred: For the quinuclidine moiety, quinoline and to a somewhat lesser extent naphthalene were a better match, while for the pyrrolidinylmethyl group anthracene was better suited. Methylation of the OH group often had a positive effect for hydrogenations in AcOH but not in toluene. With the exception of 8, higher ees were obtained for the Cd/Qn series [leading to (R)-products] than for the Cn/Qd series [leading to (S)-products]. In several cases, opposite structure-selectivity trends were detected when comparing reactions in toluene and AcOH, indicating a significant influence of the solvent.