The role of cinchona alkaloids in enantioselective hydrogenation reactions: Are they modifiers or hosts involved in supramolecular heterogeneous catalysis?

Abstract In this study experimental evidences are summarized supporting the modifier–substrate interaction taking place in the liquid phase in the enantioselective hydrogenation of α-keto esters and related compounds. The results indicate that the catalytic system cinchona alkaloids-supported platinum (or palladium) can effectively be used in enantioselective hydrogenation for prochiral substrates, in which the prochiral group is part of a conjugated double bond system. It is considered that the above catalytic system is the first example of a new class of heterogeneous catalytic reactions with the involvement of supramolecular catalysis.