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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

A Microwave-Assisted Direct Heteroarylation of Ketones Using Transition Metal Catalysis
Published on: February 16, 2020
Asymmetric hydrogenation, transfer hydrogenation and hydrosilylation of ketones catalyzed by iron complexes
1Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St George St Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3H6. rmorris@chem.utoronto.ca
Abstract:
The conventional homogeneous catalysts for the enantioselective hydrogenation or transfer hydrogenation of ketones are based on platinum metals and, in particular, ruthenium. This method provides valuable enantiopure alcohols for the fine chemical industries. This tutorial review summarizes recent successes in replacing expensive and toxic ruthenium in these catalysts with "greener" iron substitutes including my lab's recent progress in this area using iron complexes containing readily-prepared tetradentate ligands. It will enlighten chemists interested in homogeneous catalysis and asymmetric synthesis.
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