Hydrogen-transfer reduction of aromatic ketones in basic ionic liquids

Several achiral and chiral basic ionic liquids (ILs) were prepared and tested as the medium for Ru-catalyzed hydrogen-transfer reduction of different aromatic ketones. Hydrogen-transfer reduction of ketones proceeded well in achiral basic ILs using chiral catalysts. The interesting observation was made that raising the reaction temperature did not have a negative effect on enantioselectivity of the reaction. On the other hand no reaction was observed in chiral ILs. Graphical abstract