Synthesis, Crystal Structure of Chiral Ferrocenyl Amino Alcohols, and Its Use for Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation

Two chiral ferrocenyl amino alcohols ( IIIa and IIIb ) have been synthesized for the iridium catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones. The structures of two chiral ferrocenyl amino alcohols have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (CIF files CCDC nos. 1056737 ( IIIa ) and 1056734 ( IIIb )). The results show that the activity and enantioselectivity of the chiral iridium catalyst are very sensitive to the substrate structure. Ir(I)-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone resulted in moderate to good yield and lower enantioselectivity; asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of proopiophenone and 2-benzoylpyridine resulted in lower yield and lower enantioselectivity; as for 4-benzoylpyridine, good results have been achieved.