Highly Efficient Catalyst Systems Using Iron Complexes
Project Number
1526
Description
Chiral alcohols and amines that are produced by the asymmetric hydrogenation or asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones and imines, respectively, are extensively used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, fragrances and materials. Chiral alcohols and amines currently are prepared using catalysts that are based on platinum group metals (PGM) such as ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, palladium or platinum. Although some PGM catalytic systems have enzyme-like enantioselectivities and activities, their toxicity and high price make them unattractive for some industrial synthetic transformations.
