Amino alcohol effects on the ruthenium(II)-catalysed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones in propan-2-ol

A ruthenium(II) complex generated in situ from [{RuCl2(η6-C6Me6)}2], (1S,2S)-2-methylamino-1,2-diphenylethanol and KOH serves as an efficient catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives in propan-2-ol to give (S)-enriched alcohols in up to 92% ee and in > 90% yield.