Asymmetric hydrogenolysis of racemic tertiary alcohols, 3-substituted 3-hydroxyisoindolin-1-ones.

Asymmetric hydrogenolysis of racemic tertiary alcohols, 3-substituted 3-hydroxyisoindolin-1-ones, was developed using chiral phosphoric acid as catalyst and a Hantzsch ester as the hydrogen source with up to 95% ee. The reaction process of this asymmetric transfer hydrogenation may occur directly through the acyliminium ion intermediate.