Chiral surfactant-type catalyst for asymmetric reduction of aliphatic ketones in water.

A novel chiral surfactant-type catalyst is developed. Micelles formed in water by association of the catalysts themselves, and this was confirmed by TEM analyses. Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aliphatic ketones catalyzed by the chiral metallomicellar catalyst gave good to excellent conversions and remarkable stereoselectivities (up to 95% ee). Synergistic effects between the metal-catalyzed center and the hydrophobic microenvironment of the core in the metallomicelle led to high enantioselectivities.