Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones with bifunctional transition metal-based molecular catalysts.

Recent development of conceptually new chiral bifunctional transition metal based catalysts for asymmetric reductive transformations is described. The chiral bifunctional molecular catalyst promoted reduction is now realized to be a powerful tool to access chiral compounds in organic synthetic procedures in both academia and industry. Based on structural investigation of the actual catalyst and its intermediates and a deep understanding of the reaction mechanism, this asymmetric reduction system can be widely used to produce valuable chiral alcohols and is now is applicable to commercial scale production.