Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones Using New Iron(II) (P‐NH‐N‐P′) Catalysts: Changing the Steric and Electronic Properties at Phosphorus P

The asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of ketones is an efficient method for producing enantio‐enriched alcohols which are used as intermediates in a variety of industrial processes. Here we report the synthesis of new iron ATH precatalysts (S,S)‐[FeBr(CO)(Ph2PCH2CH2NHCHPhCHPhNC=CHCH2PR′2)][BPh4] (R′=Et, and ortho‐tolyl (o‐Tol)) where one of the phosphine groups is modified with small alkyl and large aryl substituents to probe the effect of this change on the activity and selectivity of the catalytic system. A simple reversible equilibrium kinetic model is used to obtain the initial TOF and the inherent enantioselectivity S=kR/kS of these catalysts along with those for the previously reported catalysts with R′=Ph and Cy for the ATH of acetophenone. With an increase in the size of the PR′2 group, the TOF goes through a maximum at PPh2 while the S value goes through a maximum of 510 at R′=Cy. The complex with R′=o‐Tol starts with a high S value of 200 but is rapidly changed to a second catalyst with an S value of 28. For the reduction of acetophenone to (R)‐1‐phenylethanol, turnover numbers of up to 5200 and ee up to 98 % were achieved. The chemotherapeutic pharmaceutical precursor (R)‐(3′,5′‐bis(trifluoromethyl))‐1‐phenylethanol is synthesized in up to 95 % ee. Several other alcohols can be prepared in greater than 90 % ee by choosing the precatalyst with the correctly matched steric properties. A hydride complex derived from the catalyst with R′=Cy is characterized by NMR spectroscopy. It is proposed that low concentration trans‐hydride carbonyl complexes with the FeH parallel to the NH of the ligand are the active catalysts in all of these systems.