Palladium/Zinc Co‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of γ‐Keto Carboxylic Acids

Abstract A palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of levulinic acid has been successful developed by using Zn(OTf) 2 as co‐catalyst. The present method not only has provided a strategy in the palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of ketone, but also allowed the preparation of a wide range of chiral γ‐valerolactones in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities.