Magnetically recoverable SiO2-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles: a new platform for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones in aqueous medium.

A magnetically recoverable chiral rhodium catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity and enantioselectivity in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones in aqueous medium, which could be recovered easily via a small magnet and used repetitively ten times without obviously affecting its enantioselectivity.