Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of prochiral ketones in aqueous media with chiral water-soluble and heterogenized bifunctional catalysts of the RhCp*-type ligand.

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of prochiral aromatic ketones was carried out with a water-soluble complex of Rh(III)Cp* and mononitrobenzenesulfonamide bidentate ligand (1R,2R)-N-(2-aminocyclohexyl)-4-nitrobenzenesulfonamide 1 derived from chiral cyclohexane-1,2-diamine. Aqueous sodium formate was used as the hydride source. The reaction afforded the chiral alcohols in good enantioselectivities (79-93%) and yields (>99%). The modified monosulfonamide ligand was also covalently immobilized on solid phase such as silica, resin, and mesoporous SBA-15 silica and then explored as a catalyst with Rh(III)Cp* in the ATH of acetophenone.