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Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation Of Secondary Allylic Alcohols, Christopher Olugbenga Olusegun Shoola

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This dissertation highlights the developments and optimization of a new reaction method that transforms racemic secondary allylic alcohols into optically active secondary alcohols. The key step in this methodology occurs through a ruthenium catalyzed tandem isomerization and asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reaction. This reaction is a one pot, two-step process, which utilizes the unique ability of a transition metal catalyst to effect a combined reduction of the C-C double bond and the carbonyl group in a selected class of secondary allylic alcohols.

With a-vinyl benzyl alcohol as substrate, the optimal catalyst for this reaction was generated in situ from a …