Catalytic behavior of a Wool-Pd complex in asymmetric hydrogenation of diacetone alcohol and 3-methyl-2-butanone

A Wool-Pd complex has been found to be able to catalyze the asymmetric hydr ogenation of diacetone alcohol to (R)-2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol acid 3-methy l-2-butanone to (R)-3-methyl-2-butanol at 30 degrees C and under 1 atm H-2. The optical yields were greatly affected by Pd content in Wool-Pd complex. When a proper Pd content was selected, (R)-2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol and (R )-3-methyl-2-butanol could be obtained in 73 and 100% optical yield, respec tively. This chiral natural biopolymer-Pd complex catalyst was easy to prep are and could be reused without appreciable change in optical catalytic act ivity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.