Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Aldehydes via Hydrogenation with Ruthenium

Significance While chiral secondary alcohols are easily obtained from hydrogenation of the corresponding prochiral ketone, few methods for the synthesis of chiral primary alcohols exist by asymmetric hydrogenation. In this study, these substrates are obtained by the asymmetric hydrogenation of racemic α-branched aldehydes via dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR). An example of the utility of this system is demonstrated in the short synthesis of a biologically active compound.