BINAP/1,4-Diamine−Ruthenium(II) Complexes for Efficient Asymmetric Hydrogenation of 1-Tetralones and Analogues

A combined system of a RuCl(2)(binap)(1,4-diamine) complex and t-C(4)H(9)OK in i-C(3)H(7)OH catalyzes enantioselective hydrogenation of various 1-tetralone derivatives and some methylated 2-cyclohexenones. Hydrogenation of 2-methyl-1-tetralone under dynamic kinetic resolution gives the cis alcohol with high ee. [reaction: see text]