Asymmetric hydrogenation of α,α'-disubstituted cycloketones through dynamic kinetic resolution: an efficient construction of chiral diols with three contiguous stereocenters.

Chiral diols with three contiguous stereocenters were synthesized by a highly enantioselective ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of racemic α,α'-disubstituted cycloketones involving dynamic kinetic resolution. This new catalytic asymmetric method provides a concise route to the alkaloid (+)-γ-lycorane.