An Environmentally Sustainable Synthesis of Enantioenriched CF3‐Chromanol, Indanol and Tetralol Derivatives by Rh‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation

Abstract The Rh(III)‐catalyzed asymmetric reduction of α‐trifluoromethyl ketones through transfer hydrogenation was developed under mild conditions to access a series of enantioenriched cis ‐trifluoromethyl alcohols via a dynamic kinetic resolution process. The reaction was efficiently performed in the green solvent 2‐MeTHF with HCO 2 H/Et 3 N (1 : 1) as the hydrogen source. High yields, alongside excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities were obtained for the synthesis of CF 3 ‐chromanol, CF 3 ‐indanol and CF 3 ‐tetralol derivatives.