Combining Electronic and Steric Effects To Generate Hindered Propargylic Alcohols in High Enantiomeric Excess

Tethered ruthenium–TsDPEN complexes have been applied to the catalysis of the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of a range of aryl/acetylenic ketones. The introduction of an ortho- substituent to the aryl ring of the substrate results in a reversal of the enantioselectivity, while the introduction of two o-fluoro substituents results in an improvement to the reduction enantioselectivity, as does the replacement of a phenyl ring on the alkyne with a trimethylsilyl group. These effects are rationalized as resulting from a change in the steric properties of the aryl ring and the electronic properties of the alkyne which, when matched in the reduction transition state, combine within a “window” of substrate/catalyst matching to generate products of high ee.