Facile Preparation of Chiral 1, 3-Diols via Stereoselective Transfer Hydrogenation of 1, 3-Diones

Asymmetric reduction of 1, 3‐diones catalyzed by (S, S)‐TsD‐PEN‐Ru(II) complex in a mixture of formic add‐triethylamine proceeded with a substrate/catalyst molar ratio of 100 to give (S, S)‐l,3‐diols with excellent diastereomeric (98.6% de) and enantiomeric purities ( > 99% ee). Other C2‐symmetric diols were also obtained in almost quantitative yields with high diastereomeric (80.0%‐84.2% de) and enantiomeric purities ( > 99% ee).