Chiral compound suitable as a catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

Abstract

The invention relates to an enantiomerically enriched chiral compound comprising a transition metal M, which comprises four, five or six coordinating groups of which at least one pair is linked together to form a bidentate ligand, in which M is directly bound via one single σ-bond to a carbon atom of an optionally substituted and/or optionally fused (hetero)aromatic ring of said bidentate ligand and in which M is directly bound to a nitrogen atom of a primary or secondary amino group of said bidentate ligand, thereby forming a metallacycle between said bidentate ligand and the metal M, said metal M being selected from the metals of groups 8 and 9 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, in particular iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, or iridium. The chiral compound can be used as a catalyst, preferably in an asymmetric transfer hydrogenation process. The invention further relates to a process for an asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of a prochiral compound in the presence of a hydrogen donor and the chiral compound of the invention comprising a transition metal chosen from the metals of groups 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table, in particular iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium or platinum as the catalyst.