Platinum group metals as catalysts in enantioselective 1-phenylpropane-1,2-dione hydrogenation

Different γ-Al₂O₃ supported Ir, Pd, Ru, Rh and Pt catalysts were tested in enantioselective 1-phenylpropane-1,2-dione hydrogenation using cinchona alkaloid modifiers. Activity and enantioselectivity over Ir and Ru catalysts were low. Pd catalyst was active in the hydrogenation of 1-phenylpropane-1,2-dione, however, the enantioselectivity over this catalyst was almost negligible. Over Pd hydrogenation proceeded mainly via hydrogenation of the C₁O₁ carbonyl group, which is attached to the phenyl ring. Hydrogenation over Pd did not proceed in the second hydrogenation step via an enol form as found for ethyl pyruvate hydrogenation over Pd. The structure-selectivity relationship and solvent effects are similar over Pt and Rh in the first hydrogenation step. However, in the second hydrogenation step of hydroxyketones to diols large mechanistical differences between Pt and Rh were observed. Although the activity over Rh catalysts was lower than over Pt after optimization the best result obtained with Rh/γ-Al₂O₃ (5754 Lancaster) was 60% ee in toluene at maximum yield of 28%, which makes Rh a promising metal for enantioselective hydrogenation.