Directing Group Enabled Ruthenium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Naphthalenes and Related Carbocyclic Aromatics

Among the aromatic carbocyclic rings, the highly regio- and enantioselective hydrogenation of nonsymmetrical naphthalenes has remained a long-standing challenge in asymmetric catalysis. Herein, we reporte an amide-directed asymmetric hydrogenation of nonsymmetrical naphthalenes with a ruthenium catalyst with up to 99% ee. This strategy was also successfully applied in the asymmetric hydrogenation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.