A Stereochemically Well-Defined Rhodium(III) Catalyst for Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones

A rhodium(III) catalyst for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones has been designed. The incorporation of a tethering group between
the diamino group and the cyclopentadienyl unit provides extra stereochemical rigidity. The catalyst is capable of enantioselective reduction
of a range of ketones in excellent ee using formic acid/triethylamine as both the solvent and the reducing agent.